Fans Express Outrage Over Three-Minute VAR Delay Following Jean-Philippe Mateta’s Goal in Crystal Palace vs Everton Match

Crystal Palace’s home game against Everton saw tensions rise among fans as a VAR decision created a lengthy three-minute delay after Jean-Philippe Mateta’s equalising goal.

Fans were already on edge, and the extended wait for a decision only added fuel to the fire.

Despite initial optimism that the goal was onside, the VAR took its time to review the situation thoroughly.

The Moment That Sparked Outrage

The drama began when Marc Guehi delivered a lofted ball into a crowded penalty box following a Palace corner.

Mateta volleyed the ball into the bottom-left corner of the net, seemingly leveling the match.

At first glance, it appeared to be a perfectly legitimate goal.

However, the VAR system insisted on an extended review, which left many fans feeling frustrated and confused about the lengthy process.

It was later revealed that the cause of the delay was Everton striker Beto, whose position blocked the referee’s view of Mateta during the review.

While this played a part in the long delay, fans felt that the decision should have been made much faster.

Fans Voice Their Frustrations on Social Media

Social media was flooded with comments from frustrated supporters, who felt that the delay was unnecessary.

One user on X wrote, “VAR is embarrassing itself with decisions that shouldn’t take that long to make but end up taking ages.

JP Mateta’s goal should be onside without 3-4 minutes of scrutiny.”

Another fan commented, “Pathetic how long this Mateta VAR check is taking.

Anyone with the gift of sight can see it’s onside.”

The consensus seemed clear: fans were upset at how long it took to make a call that they felt was obvious.

The Bigger Picture: The Result and Everton’s Victory

Despite Mateta’s goal eventually being deemed valid, Crystal Palace’s joy was short-lived.

Everton, under manager David Moyes, managed to take the lead after Beto opened the scoring just before halftime.

Mateta’s equaliser early in the second half seemed to breathe life into Palace, but it was short-lived.

In the 80th minute, Everton’s January loan signing Carlos Alcaraz scored the winning goal, making it 2-1.

This victory marked Everton’s fourth win in their last six Premier League matches, a strong run since Moyes returned to the club.

Conclusion: VAR Debate Continues

While Everton secured the three points, the controversy surrounding the VAR decision will likely linger for some time.

Fans are continuing to question the efficiency of the system and whether it is truly serving the best interests of the game.

For now, the debate over the use of technology in football is far from over.