Premier League explains controversial VAR decision as Tottenham collapses against Crystal Palace
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Liverpool IconPremier LeagueTottenham Hotspur FCTottenham fell apart in the first half against Crystal Palace, with Micky van de Ven getting sent off after conceding a penalty and Ismaila Sarr running riot in North LondonTottenham manager Igor Tudor.(Image: Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)Some Premier League supporters believed Crystal Palace was "robbed" of a goal against Tottenham after Ismaila Sarr saw a strike ruled out for the narrowest of offsides.The assistant referee did not raise his flag before Sarr's deflected strike looped up over Guglielmo Vicario and into the far corner. However, following a VAR review, Sarr's opener at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was overturned, and replays revealed Sarr's forehead was the sole part of his body that had strayed beyond the last defender, Liverpool-linked Micky van de Ven.The Premier League Match Centre posted on X: "VAR checked the referee's call of goal and established that Sarr was in an offside position and recommended that the goal was disallowed."READ MORE: James Milner names ex-Liverpool teammate as most underrated star he's played withREAD MORE: Alexander Isak injury update offers hint at likely Liverpool return dateBut co-commentator and former Spurs goalkeeper Joe Hart remarked on TNT Sports: "None of it looks right.
Offside by a nose."Hart then joked: "I know a few people who would have been given offside in that situation!"Sarr did not celebrate after scoring, having apparently been conscious of how marginal the decision was.Content cannot be displayed without consentHowever, just how tight the offside actually proved sparked fury on social media, with neutrals asserting Palace was "robbed" given only an inch of Sarr's face was actually beyond Van de Ven.In a frantic opening period, Spurs edged ahead moments later courtesy of Dominic Solanke. However, Spurs undermined themselves as Van de Ven received his marching orders for hauling down Sarr by the shirt five minutes following Solanke's strike, conceding a penalty in the process.The Senegalese forward converted from 12 yards to restore parity for Palace, with the VAR determining that the penalty and the red card were the right call.Matters deteriorated further for Igor Tudor's side, though.
Jorgen Strand Larsen fired Palace into a 2-1 advantage against the depleted Spurs just two minutes into added time in the first half. And before the break, Sarr claimed his brace to essentially seal the contest.Get LFC's 2025/26 season home and away kitsThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it.