• Fans were angry after a three-minute delay in Crystal Palace’s clash with Everton
  • The VAR took a fortune to decide if Jean-Phillipe Mateta’s equaliser was onside  
  • LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Will Liverpool recover from Everton blow in season-defining week? 

By YASEEN ZAMAN

Fans were outraged during Crystal Palace’s clash with Everton, after VAR caused a three-minute delay following Jean-Philippe Mateta’s equaliser against the Toffees.

The goal appeared to be onside when looked at with the naked eye, but the VAR felt it necessary to take their time with the call.

Marc Guehi delivered a lofted pass into a crowded box, following a Palace corner, and it was volleyed into the bottom-left corner by Mateta.

The Frenchman was played onside by Everton striker Beto who blocked the official’s view of Mateta on the replay, likely leading to the long delay.

However, many fans were in no mood to extend any leniency towards the VAR, and argued that the decision should have been wrapped up much earlier.

One user wrote on X: ‘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.’

Fans were outraged as VAR took three minutes to decide if Crystal Palace’s goal was onside

Beto was blocking the official's view of Palace's goalscorer, Jean-Phillipe Mateta, on the replay

Beto was blocking the official’s view of Palace’s goalscorer, Jean-Phillipe Mateta, on the replay

The official decision was onside, but the margins were a lot tighter than they initially appeared

The official decision was onside, but the margins were a lot tighter than they initially appeared

Another said: ‘Pathetic how long this Mateta VAR check is taking. Anyone with the gift of sight can see it’s onside.’

A third noted: ‘If you can’t see Mateta because the defender is blocking him then he’s obviously onside.’ 

Ultimately, Mateta’s efforts were in vain, as Everton went on to log their fourth win in six Premier League games since David Moyes began his second spell on Merseyside last month.

Beto opened the scoring for the visitors, converting a one-on-one minutes before the end of the first half. 

Mateta’s equalised shortly after half-time, but Everton’s January loan signing Carlos Alcaraz netted a winner to make it 2-1 in the 80th minute.

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Fans are all saying the same thing after VAR chaos saw Crystal Palace vs Everton game delayed by THREE minutes following Jean-Philippe Mateta’s equaliser against the Toffees

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