Title: Controversy Surrounds Cole Palmer’s Spectacular Goal in Chelsea’s Victory over Wolves
Introduction:
In Chelsea’s dominant 6-2 win against Wolves, Cole Palmer’s stunning goal has become a topic of controversy. While fans hailed it as a contender for Goal of the Season, beINSPORTS claims that the goal should not have stood due to a little-known rule. This article delves into the details of the controversy and explores the implications of this rule on VAR’s ability to intervene.
The Controversial Goal:
Cole Palmer’s goal against Wolves was a moment of brilliance as he skillfully lobbed the retreating goalkeeper, Jose Sa. However, beINSPORTS argues that the “pre-assist” pass from goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to Nicolas Jackson was illegal. According to the claim, the ball was still rolling from the previous play when Sanchez launched his kick, technically requiring a restart of play.
The Little-Known Rule:
Under this little-known rule, VAR officials do not check restarts as part of their protocol. Therefore, despite the ball technically still being in motion when Sanchez made the pass, VAR was unable to intervene. This rule effectively prevented VAR from ruling out Palmer’s goal, as he was in an onside position and Jackson was ahead of Wolves’ defense. Only referee Darren England could have prevented play from continuing towards Jackson and Palmer.
Implications and Analysis:
The controversy surrounding Cole Palmer’s goal highlights a loophole in VAR’s intervention capabilities. While VAR is designed to ensure fair play and minimize errors, this little-known rule exposes a gap in its effectiveness. By not considering restarts, VAR potentially allows goals to stand even if they were initiated from an illegal pass or restart.
Experts argue that this rule should be revisited to ensure consistency and fairness in decision-making. Applying VAR to restarts would eliminate the possibility of goals being scored from situations that should have required a restart. By including restarts in their protocol, VAR officials would have the necessary tools to review the legality of passes leading up to goals.
Conclusion:
Cole Palmer’s spectacular goal in Chelsea’s victory over Wolves has sparked controversy due to a little-known rule that prevented VAR from intervening. While fans celebrated the goal, beINSPORTS claims that the pass leading to the goal was illegal. This incident raises questions about the effectiveness of VAR and the need for a review of the rule in question. By incorporating restarts into the protocol, VAR officials would be able to ensure fair play and prevent goals from being scored in situations that require a restart.