Crystal Palace’s second goal in the 3-1 victory over Nottingham Forest should have been ruled out by the on-field officials for handball, according to the Premier League’s Key Match Incidents Panel.
The match was level at 1-1 in first-half stoppage time when Jefferson Lerma appeared to send the ball through the legs of Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels. Further analysis showed the ball had deflected off the elbow of Palace team-mate Anan Khalaili before entering the net, meaning the goal was technically scored by Khalaili and could not stand under the handball rules.
That contact was not identified in the initial replays and only became clear during the television coverage at half-time. The panel voted 3-2 that referee Peter Bankes had made an on-field error by allowing the goal to stand.
However, the decision not to intervene was unanimously supported when the panel assessed the work of VAR Darren England. Its view was that the video footage available to the VAR did not provide conclusive evidence of a handball, despite the panel believing contact with Khalaili’s arm was probable.
The decision will be particularly frustrating for Forest, who had a Neco Williams goal ruled out for handball during their goalless draw with Tottenham. The panel unanimously backed that VAR intervention, while Bankes was working as the video assistant referee for that match.
