Spurs bound EZE finally broke silence and revealed what referee Sam Barrot told him
Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze has disclosed a conversation he had with the referee after his stunning free-kick goal was controversially disallowed during Sunday’s match against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium. In a tightly contested London derby, Brentford secured a 2-1 victory, with goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Yoan Wissa. Crystal Palace’s only goal came courtesy of an own goal by Ethan Pinnock, which briefly gave the Eagles hope of a comeback.
The match, however, was marred by a controversial incident midway through the first half when Eze’s audacious free-kick was ruled out. As the ball made its way toward the Brentford goal, referee Sam Barrott blew his whistle for a foul committed by Palace’s Will Hughes on Brentford’s Nathan Collins. This decision came just as the ball was headed for the back of the net, and because the referee had stopped play before the ball crossed the line, VAR was unable to intervene or overturn the decision.
Eze later revealed, as reported by London News Online, that during a post-match conversation with the referee, Barrott admitted he had made a mistake. Eze shared this revelation on BBC’s Match of the Day, shedding light on the official’s acknowledgment of the error that cost Palace a potential equalizer.
After the match, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner also addressed the incident. Glasner expressed his surprise at the referee’s decision to blow the whistle so early but accepted that the decision was final. “I think everybody was surprised that the referee blew his whistle so early, but I don’t complain about it because the decision was already made. In this moment, he took the decision. We thought it was a goal, but the rules are that when the ball is in the game and the referee blows his whistle, then it doesn’t count,” Glasner stated.
Glasner continued by reflecting on the missed opportunities in the first half that could have put Palace ahead, emphasizing that despite the referee’s error, the team had other chances to score. “It is how it is. We had many other situations where we couldn’t have taken the lead in the first half, but we didn’t. There were many situations where we thought we could have a finish or a chance, but we missed the right moment. We did it better in the second half, but it wasn’t enough today,” he added.
Glasner also praised the referee for his honesty in admitting the mistake, highlighting the integrity it takes for an official to acknowledge an error in such a high-stakes situation. “It shows that the referee is a good character and a good guy. You can always find excuses or tell the players it is part of the game to make mistakes. I made mistakes today as well. It shows he is a great man to say he made a mistake. But it doesn’t change anything,” Glasner remarked.
The disallowed goal and the referee’s admission have sparked discussions about the use of VAR and the timing of referees’ decisions during crucial moments in matches. While the incident did not change the outcome of the game, it left Crystal Palace and their fans wondering what might have been if the goal had stood. As the team looks to bounce back from the defeat, this episode serves as a reminder of the fine margins that often decide football matches and the human element that continues to play a significant role in the sport.
