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Marco Silva ‘seething’ as Premier League explain decision to disallow Fulham opener at Chelsea

Marco Silva was left ‘seething’ as the Premier League explain that controversial decision to disallow Fulham their opener at Chelsea.

In the 22nd minute of the first Premier League fixture of the weekend, a goal by Fulham’s Tom King was overturned by VAR.

The referee ruled it out due to a careless challenge by Rodrigo Muniz, who stood on Trevoh Chalobah’s foot during the buildup.

Premier League Match Centre tweeted: #CHEFUL – 22’ VAR OVERTURN – After VAR review, the referee overturned the original decision of goal to Fulham.

The referee announcement: “After review, Fulham number nine commits a careless challenge, stands on the foot of the Chelsea defender, therefore we disallow the goal and we restart with a Chelsea free kick. There would be no further action.”

Jamie Carragher said: “VAR has had a shocking start to the season”

Rio Ferdinand wrote: “VAR killing this young man’s moment… 😱”

Mike Dean on Soccer Saturday: “I do not think it is a foul, it should stand. I do not know where else the attacker can put his foot. He has taken a long time over this Rob [Jones]…

“Rob has been sucked in by the VAR [Michael Salisbury], he has just landed on his foot which can only go in one place, it is a poor, poor call.”

Curtis Davies (former Premier League defender on BBC Radio 5 Live) wrote: “I’m fuming and I’m a defender and usually I’m on the side of the defender.

“Trevor Chalobah has gone for a tackle that was never in his favour. Rodrigo Muniz takes the ball and accidentally steps on his foot. I don’t know how that’s a foul, never mind taking off the goal.

“The whole point of VAR and this is my frustration, we’ve probably said this a thousand times I’m getting bored of saying it, is clear and obvious.

“We’re watching a young lad run away and score a goal and it’s getting pulled back for nothing.

“It’s honestly ridiculous and you’re going to look for a needle in a haystack with every decision.”

Nizaar Kinsella (BBC Sport Chelsea reporter at Stamford Bridge): “Fulham manager Marco Silva is often angry at officials but this time he seems on another level.

“That baffling decision by referee Robert Jones has punished Rodrigo Muniz for good target man play and cost Fulham a wonderful goal.

“The supporters are also raging chanting: “you don’t know what you’re doing” at the officials.

“Interestingly, this is the third time in three matches VAR have ruled out a goal in Chelsea’s favour but it is the first one which has done so in such controversial fashion.”

Chelsea then took the lead nine minutes into stoppage time in the first half, Enzo Fernandez’s corner being nodded home by Joao Pedro.

On the 50th minute, Chelsea screamed penalty as Ryan Sessegnon blocked Trevoh Chalobah’s cross. Nothing was initially given – but VAR had another look. Sessegnon’s arm was away from his body. Replays showed Ryan Sessegnon’s arm away from his body as he turned his back on Trevoh Chalobah’s cross. As per current rules, a penalty was always likely to be awarded.

The referee went over to the monitor to check for a possible foul by Joao Pedro in the build-up. The penalty was given for a Ryan Sessegnon handball. Marco Silva laughed.

Enzo Fernandez made it 2-0 Chelsea and held on for all three points, Fulham nearly got one back later on, but was off the line.

Curtis Davies: “His hand was in a natural position but they’ll say it’s making his body bigger. It’s going to be given.”

Premier League Match Centre tweeted: “#CHEFUL – 50’ VAR OVERTURN – After VAR review, the referee overturned the original decision of no penalty to Chelsea. Referee announcement: “After review, Fulham thirty [Sessegnon] makes his body unnaturally bigger by blocking a cross, with his arms extended away from his body. Therefore my final decision is penalty kick.”

After the final whistle, Marco Silva made his way onto the pitch, clapping the Fulham fans then went straight down the tunnel, no waiting for a chat with the referee.

Joe Cole (on TNT Sports): “It is an absolutely disgraceful performance from VAR. We have to remember that when we watch football it means so much to many people and VAR feels sanitised and clinical – it doesn’t work. Let’s be honest.

“When you have a decision like that [the first goal] and is is so subjective and nuanced and you are stopping the game for four minutes, then you have one man that has to go over to a screen and make a decision – it just doesn’t work.”

Fulham boss Marco Silva speaking to BBC Sport: “[the VAR decision] changed the game. Overall performance wise we were outstanding first half, playing the game like it should be played. We should be proud. We were clearly the best team in the first half.

“It is a great finish from our young boy [Josh King]. The referee and VAR decision I cannot control. I try to speak as best as I can. I have some words, everyone is shocked in the dressing room, people watching TV, everyone. Many things happen. The first goal when they give eight minutes extra time. Nothing happens in that eight minutes. Chelsea have a corner, then another corner. It is already nine minutes. The game should be stopped. I would like to understand why.

“The penalty is another shocking decision. Someone at the screen [VAR] has seen something unbelievable like a stamp [for the disallowed goal]. The same people did not see a foul on Josh King and handball by Joao Pedro, and the stamp on Alex Iwobi. The same four eyes saw something unbelievable in the first half didn’t see the same for us in the second half.

“The has to be balance. The official was very balanced because after the decisions our emotions were too much. He understood in the right moments, did not show yellow cards and I have to praise him.

“He refereed the game like a derby. He didn’t see something [for Josh King’s goal] and by the protocol he should be called to the screen if is is obvious and clear but no-one can tell me that it was.”

Fulham midfielder Josh King to TNT Sports on his disallowed goal: “It’s a hard feeling to describe. It was a tough decision. I think it was a perfectly good goal but we just have to pick ourselves up.”

On decisions going against Fulham: “That is the part of being a professional, decisions go against you and you have to bounce back. But it was tough to have a goal disallowed and concede just before half time.”

On Marco Silva: “He is a really passionate person and that fires us up. We tired to work hard for each other, it was tough take because we deserved more.

“[Scoring] was one of the best feelings I have felt. Hopefully I can replicate it and it counts next time.”

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca speaking to BBC Match of the Day on Fulham’s disallowed goal: “I watched it a few times already and for me it’s quite clear it is a foul. But I can understand from their point of view it isn’t. You can see their player kicked our player, so for me, it’s clear.

On Joao Pedro handball before penalty: “I just realised now. I saw they were reviewing the handball of Fulham and not ours.

On Chelsea’s second-half performance: “First half, we were not patient on the ball. We were always looking for long solutions. In the second half, we were good on the ball and also thesecond balls.

On Estevao Willian: “Estevao, and Tyrique George also. They are almost the same age. Very young. We are full of very good and talented players.

On Alejandro Garnacho’s move to Chelsea: “I think it’s done. I was focussed on the game but he is here, so I think every thing is fine.

On his squad: “I have always been happy since I joined the club. So, I don’t have any doubt.”

On international break: “It’s the perfect time for the break. We need to recover our energy and then we go again.”

Chelsea forward Joao Pedro speaking to TNT Sports: “The gaffer told us Fulham were a good team. If we won the first and second balls, we had a good chance to win the game. We didn’t start very well, but we scored and had half-time to organise the team.

“When I scored, the team had more time to organise and then go to the half-time.”

On referee’s decision to disallow Fulham goal: “The referee makes his decisions. I don’t have anything to say about it. If the referee gives that, it’s good for us.”

On Chelsea’s second goal: “I knew my hand was close to my body. I just waited for the decision from the referee and he gave the penalty for us.”

On his start to Chelsea career: “I am very happy but I think I need to keep working hard to help this team. I need to improve every day to keep what I am doing. Now is a break and I go to the Brazil squad. I need to keep working hard.”

Here’s how social media users reacted with Marco Silva ‘seething’ as the Premier League explain the decision to disallow Fulham their opener at Chelsea…

@Cotto34: They’ve entirely ruined top level English @premierleague @SkySportsPL football as results are now basically arbitrary over these random refereeing decisions. @FA_PGMOL are destroying the sporting contest.

@HLTCO: Where’s his foot supposed to go?

@allmyown4026: Spoke extremely well here without getting himself in trouble @TonyKhan really is time to support Marco with players incoming, or at least get a wrestler to do the ref

@TheBhoyJM: VAR has ruined football. The worst thing is the fact you’ve got guys earning a ridiculous amount of money coming to the same conclusion. Football is dead.

@CoachDooneyR90: You were absolutely robbed. The @FA_PGMOL are an absolute disgrace and if managers have to come out like this and do interviews on their performance than the referees should be made too.

@Jashan_lfc: Happened right in front of the ref. Why he reversed his decision after a replay is beyond me

@vonduffer: We don’t need to get rid of VAR. We need SuperVAR to ReVAR the VAR for when the VAR makes a complete and utter VAR of it.

@Jasonmoss1995: If thats a chelsea goal nothing gets checked im 100% sure

@AllAVFC_: Exactly, there’s zero common sense with VAR/Referees

@Crowleys020922: This is pathetic and it’s completely out of control. Technology is great, the people operating the technology are woefully inept. Slowly ruining the game… #VAR

@CraigCharles23: Game has well and truly gone. VAR isn’t for the betterment of the game, it’s to allow for centre character behaviour from referees and their misinterpretation of the rules.

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