Clattenburg Slams VAR Over Eze’s Goal Controversy – Crystal Palace Left Fuming at Protocol Breach
Crystal Palace may have walked off the pitch with a bitter taste, but former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg believes their frustration is more than justified. The latest VAR storm erupted after Eberechi Eze’s goal, with Clattenburg claiming the officials behind the screen broke protocol — a damning accusation that has once again placed the Premier League’s technology experiment under fire.
Eze, who has been one of Palace’s brightest sparks, thought he had delivered a moment of brilliance only for controversy to overshadow the celebration. VAR, according to Clattenburg, failed to apply the system correctly, leaving Palace feeling robbed. “The protocol wasn’t followed, and that’s unacceptable at this level,” Clattenburg remarked sharply, insisting that the Eagles have every right to feel aggrieved.
This isn’t the first time VAR has made headlines for the wrong reasons. From disallowed goals to hairline offsides, fans and pundits alike have questioned whether the system adds clarity or chaos. But what makes this case sting for Palace is that it wasn’t about interpretation—it was about procedure. If Clattenburg is correct, VAR didn’t just make a bad call, it ignored its own rulebook.
For a club like Palace, battling to carve out a strong identity in the Premier League, moments like these cut deep. Eze’s creativity is supposed to be rewarded, not undermined by confusion in a replay booth. And for fans, who have endured endless stoppages and controversies, it raises the question: Is VAR improving the game or strangling its spirit?
Clattenburg’s comments are sure to put pressure on the refereeing body, PGMOL, which has already been under siege this season for repeated blunders. Palace manager and supporters will now demand answers—was this simply human error or systemic incompetence?
One thing is clear: VAR was designed to eliminate doubt. Instead, it keeps creating it. And for Crystal Palace, Eze’s disputed goal may go down as yet another painful reminder that technology doesn’t always deliver
