Palace Win FA Cup Amid VAR Red Card Controversy

Crystal Palace secured their first-ever major trophy by defeating Manchester City 1-0 in the FA Cup final, with Eberechi Eze scoring the only goal and Dean Henderson making a crucial penalty save. The match was marked by controversy when Henderson handled the ball outside his penalty area to stop Erling Haaland but was not sent off after VAR ruled Haaland was moving away from goal, sparking outrage from Manchester City players, manager Pep Guardiola, and numerous pundits. Guardiola confronted Henderson after the match, leading to a heated exchange. BBC pundits, including Wayne Rooney and Micah Richards, criticized the decision, arguing it should have resulted in a red card. The incident reignited debate over VAR usage and the clarity of handball and goal-denial rules. Despite the incident, Palace's defensive discipline and Henderson's heroics secured a historic victory amid emotional Wembley celebrations.