Exclusive: IFAB ‘to change law’ after Crystal Palace v Aston Villa incident
IFAB have been told to amend their laws of the game after Morgan Rogers saw a goal disallowed against Crystal Palace on Tuesday night.
Rogers, 22, managed to grab his first Premier League in 2025 in the second half of Villa’s 4-1 loss at Selhurst Park but the ex-West Brom forward will have wanted to break his dry spell sooner after he netted initially in the 42nd minute.
After a VAR check, Ollie Watkins was judged to have been marginally offside in the build-up to Rogers’ first goal.
However, the lines drawn on the pitch showed there was a negligible difference between Watkins and Palace’s rearguard.
IFAB to amend offside law after Aston Villa controversy
Former PGMOL general manager Keith Hackett wants to see the semi-automated offside system implemented to assist referees with decisions like the one that saw Watkins judged to be offside.
He’d also like to see football lawmakers IFAB amend the offside rule so that such minor offside calls benefit the attacking side.
“Whilst the semi-automated offside system is not in operation we will see these offside decisions that when they are so close they are open to debate,” Hackett told Villa News.
| Club | 24/25 Premier League offsides |
| 1. = Everton | 64 |
| 1. = Nottm Forest | 64 |
| 3. Arsenal | 59 |
| 12. Aston Villa | 45 |
“The shortfall in the current system is a lack of a ball tracking mechanism.
“It is at the point that the ball is kicked that the judgement of the position of the player is made.
“Using broadcast-speed cameras, the VAR determines when the ball is kicked and then they make the call.
“With the picture you can see how close this is and I feel that the offside call is correct.
“Frankly, the lawmakers must start to look at the law and change it so that the attacker is given the benefit of the doubt.
“Offside because VAR says offside!”
Villa only have themselves to blame after Palace loss
Although there’ll be many Aston Villa fans bemoaning the officials for their defeat to Crystal Palace, it was ultimately a loss of their own making.
If it wasn’t Villa midfielder John McGinn gifting possession for Palace to score, it was someone else.
If it wasn’t Lucas Digne struggling to defend properly for the home side’s goals, it was someone else.
Emery has to sort out Villa’s defence because they’re now among the worst teams in the league for goals conceded and clean sheets kept.