‘Got nowhere to go’… Dermot Gallagher gives referee verdict on Eberechi Eze incident vs Brentford

One of the biggest talking points over the Premier League opening weekend was Eberechi Eze’s disallowed goal against Brentford.

Crystal Palace kicked off their league campaign with a 2-1 defeat at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Ivan Toney was left out of Brentford’s matchday squad, but the Bees coped without their star striker with Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa scoring to steal all three points.

But things could have been very different for Palace if Eberechi Eze‘s goal in the first half was allowed to stand.

Referee Sam Barrott penalised Crystal Palace midfielder Will Hughes for a foul on Brentford defender Nathan Collins.

The foul was awarded just moments before Eze’s free-kick found the back of the net, but because the whistle had already gone, VAR were unable to intervel

Referee apologises for Eberechi Eze mistake

This weekend was Barrott’s first time officiating in the Premier League, and it didn’t exactly go as smoothly as he’d have wanted.

Eze admitted after the full-time whistle that Barrott apologised for his mistake. “The referee said he blew too early and made a mistake, so fair enough, everyone makes mistakes,” the Palace midfielder said.

Palace boss Oliver Glasner also praised Barrott for admitting his mistake. “It shows that he has a good character and he is a good guy,’ Glasner said. ‘We can always find excuses. It’s part of the game to make mistakes.”

Dermot Gallagher gives verdict on Eze incident

Via ‘Ref Watch’ on Sky Sports, former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher admitted that Barrott made a costly mistake with Eze’s disallowed goal.

“It’s certainly an unusual incident. The only thing that will come from it is they will learn. Sam will learn,” Gallagher said.

“The best players create time on the ball and the best referees create time. If he had just waited one second. But blowing when he did, he’s closed all his options. He’s got nowhere to go.

“That one second would have allowed the ball to go into the net. When the ball’s in the net, it’s dead and he’s got time to review what he wants to do.

“He eliminated the VAR by blowing his whistle.”