Crystal Palace’s memorable return to the Women’s Super League has been overshadowed by a substitution rule breach that could put their 1-0 victory over Everton in doubt.
The Eagles used four separate substitution windows during the match, exceeding the regulated limit of three. The issue was not identified by either Palace’s coaching staff or the match officials at the time, according to a report from WSL Football.
An investigation has now been launched, with any punishment still to be decided. One possible outcome is the result being overturned, meaning Palace face an anxious wait over the status of a victory that had initially sparked jubilant celebrations from manager Jo Potter and her players.
The decisive moment came from England Under-23s forward Lexi Lloyd-Smith, who scored on her WSL debut to secure Palace’s first top-flight win after promotion. The achievement was made even more notable by the team’s thrilling performance against Everton.
However, Kirsty Howat’s late appearance may prove central to the investigation. Howat was introduced for a cameo lasting around 60 seconds deep into injury time, with that substitution contributing to Palace’s use of a fourth window. The club’s result now remains subject to the outcome of the review.
