It has been revealed why Gabriel Jesus' second goal against Crystal Palace was not ruled out. The 27-year-old striker fired Mikel Arteta's side into the Carabao Cup semi-final, netting a brilliant hat-trick at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night.

Jean-Philippe Mateta put the Eagles ahead inside the opening minutes before Jesus levelled proceedings shortly after the break. Then, in the final quarter of an hour or so, the Brazil international scored his second and third goals of the evening.

Eddie Nketiah pulled one back, though his strike proved to be only be a consolation. However, had there been a Video Assistant Referee in operation, the Hale End graduate's effort could have been an equaliser that sent the tie to a penalty shootout.

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Jesus appeared to be offside when Bukayo Saka slotted him in behind the Palace backline. Andrew Madley, the referee, and his assistants, Nick Hopton and Craig Taylor, adjudged the Arsenal forward to be onside when the ball was played, so the goal was – controversially – awarded.

Due to competition rules, VAR is not used in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup, throwing the on-field match officials under the spotlight. The technology was first introduced in the 2018/19 season as part of a trial run for its eventual implementation in the Premier League the following season.

During that period, it was used in every round of the tournament. However, from the 2019/20 season onwards, the EFL decided to abandon VAR before the semi-final due to the system only being available at English top-flight venues, thereby ensuring no team had an unfair advantage.

So, the technology is only made available in the semi-finals and the final of the competition. Despite numerous Championship stadiums installing VAR since then, the rule remains unchanged.

This has led to outbursts from Premier League managers, who have questioned its absence in ties between teams who have the system installed. In December 2022, Jurgen Klopp argued that VAR should have been used when Liverpool lost to Manchester City in the fourth-round.

"The first chance of Haaland, at the start of the game, was offside," Klopp said after the game. "You don't know? Yes it was. I tell you. That gives the game direction. It was like, bump, 'oh my god, they are through', it was offside, but no flag up, and it gives you a bad feeling.

"I would say if we had VAR, the referees are used to VAR, and all of a sudden you tell them not today. It looked like in a couple of situations they were waiting for it, or thinking there was still VAR.

"But there were a couple of offside decisions, where everyone in the stadium was convinced they were offside. We'll never know probably because we can't play them back.

"But it makes sense if you play a competition and everywhere is VAR [Premier League], why not, especially in a game like this. I understand in earlier rounds it's not possible on all levels, but this, City-Liverpool, all the technical things are here, so why shouldn't we use it?"