Crystal Palace’s controversial second goal in their 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest has been judged an on-field refereeing mistake, but not a VAR error.
The incident occurred late in the first half at Selhurst Park, when Jefferson Lerma appeared to head the ball through Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels’ legs. Replays later showed the ball had made contact with team-mate Anan Khalaili’s elbow before crossing the line, meaning the goal was technically credited to Khalaili and could not stand if the contact was deemed handball.
The contact was not identified in the initial replays and only became apparent during television analysis at half-time. The Premier League’s Key Match Incidents Panel voted 3-2 that referee Peter Bankes should have disallowed the goal during the match.
However, the panel unanimously supported VAR Darren England’s decision not to recommend an on-field review or overturn the goal. Its view was that, although the ball was likely to have touched Khalaili’s arm, the footage available to the VAR did not provide conclusive evidence of a handball.
Palace ultimately completed a 3-1 victory, with the panel’s findings confirming that the disputed goal remained a valid match-day decision because the video evidence did not meet the threshold for VAR intervention.
The decision will be particularly frustrating for Forest after Neco Williams had a goal ruled out for handball during their goalless draw with Tottenham. The KMI Panel unanimously backed that intervention, while Bankes was working as the VAR for the disallowed goal.
