Crystal Palace defender Chris Richards insists there was no doubt in anyone’s mind that Eberechi Eze’s disallowed free-kick against Chelsea should have stood.
Eze, who has Nigerian heritage but represents England internationally, had curled in a superb effort during Palace’s opening Premier League fixture at Stamford Bridge, only for VAR to rule it out.
Richards said the decision baffled players and fans alike.
“I think everybody in the stadium thought it was a goal and somehow VAR saw something else,” Richards told the club’s website. “You know you live and die by VAR these days. But regardless, it was a good free-kick and hopefully we get a few more of those.”
The match ended in a goalless draw, with Palace producing a resolute performance to frustrate the Club World Cup holders.
Richards praised the collective effort and focus that earned the Eagles a valuable point.
“We worked well together,” the American defender said. “We’ve seen Chelsea throughout the last season and in pre-season, also at the Club World Cup.
“They have a very dangerous attack. So we knew that if we could alleviate them scoring goals, we would have a good chance. You know a draw is still a good point regardless.”
Richards added that the clean sheet was a reflection of the defensive discipline Palace had worked on throughout pre-season.
“One thing we talked about before the game was embracing the toughness that Chelsea are going to bring. It wasn’t going to be perfect, but as long as we could keep a clean sheet, that’s number one for us.”
The stalemate marked a solid start to Oliver Glasner’s first full campaign in charge, with Palace already showing signs of resilience and ambition.
