A furious Fulham head coach Marco Silva slammed the ‘unbelievable decisions’ of referee Rob Jones and VAR Michael Salisbury after his side were beaten 2-0 by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this afternoon.
The Whites saw Josh King’s fabulous first-half goal ruled out for a contentious foul by Rodrigo Muniz and went behind to Joao Pedro’s header, which was scored in the ninth minute after eight minutes were indicated by the fourth official. Silva told TNT Sports after the final whistle:
“For someone who loves football … of course, I am here as the Fulham manger but as someone who loves football, as a manager, former football player, as a fan sometimes when I watch a game, I really sad. It is clear. A derby game is a special game, in the best competition in the world, with millions and millions of people watching on TV, I saw my team playing outstanding football, in the first half. Playing football, not coming here to park the bus or something like that. We know the difference off the pitch, the financial point of view they are on a different planet, but on the pitch, we knew what were capable of. The boys were outstanding.
After what happened last week, all the controversy in the game against Manchester United, the decisions of the VAR, we are here to learn and make our players understand things. But, it is almost impossible for me to feel it is going to be balanced in the end. Performance wise, we were outstanding in the first half. All the decisions from the VAR, all the decisions from the referee made a massive impact on the game. The second half is not at the level I want to see from my team. I told them we cannot control all the decisions that went against us.
How you disallow a goal like that is unbelievable. Unbelievable We have meetings with the referees, with the people that is in charge, that we all respect. We go there to try and see a direction in things. One of the main things is that the VAR is not here to referee the game. The protocol [is that] it is here to see things that are clear. For me, it is unbelievable. I would prefer to say nothing more because I will be punished, which I don’t want. I want to be on the bench for the next game. I don’t want to pay fines. I want to help our players. It has been difficult for us with the start of the season with so many decisions that don’t come in the way they should. But, it is what it is, let’s move on.
36I would love to explain [to you] many things. For example, the first goal. My job is to prepare my players, so we are going to analyse [the goals]. Eight minutes extra time. First corner. After the first corner, it was already nine minutes. They had the first corner in the eighth minute. If it was me [attacking], I would like to see a corner. They won the second corner. It is nine minutes. He has to stop the game. It is in the rules. He has to stop the game. I am not saying that is my opinion, by the rules. The referee he told me, ‘I had to stop and speak to your player’. I checked the eight minutes. The game didn’t stop [for] one second. What can I say to you? I am the manager. I am trying to do the best for my football club. Chelsea won the game and we move on.
We can be certain that the FA, Premier League and PGMOL will do absolutely nothing, except look for an excuse to criticise Fulham for complaining.
Marco, we’re proud of you and our team. We know how the boys played. You were completely robbed and let down by a corrupt League. There is no other explanation. Do not accept PGMOL with apologies of mistakes. That disallowed goal cannot be a mistake. It cannot be a mistake. Nobody intervenes thinking that is a CLEAR AND OBVIOUS foul. Nobody can think that. It is impossible to watch that back and think the Ref made a clear and obvious error in allowing Rodrigo to shield the ball as he did. Corruption is the only explanation
He would have to be the worst referee in the whole league, Kings goal should have stood and var should not be getting involved in something which happened on the half way line it should have been sorted by that useless referee, and Chelsea first goal was scored after 8 minutes of added time was played so why did the referee not see that either just like he never saw Pedro handball before it hit Sess’s arm. It’s time to sort out var which just isn’t working why was var called for something on the half way line which was not even a foul. I feel so sorry for Marco who doesn’t even get any backing from the Khan’s in the transfer window.
I can’t paste in tables of stats, but try to look at Jones’ PL games. Fulham stands out as having a terrible record with him. He has refereed 18 games and Fulham have won 3, drawn 4 and lost 11. That looks like bias to me.
Kavanagh last week and Jones this week shows how poor our referees are. It’s a closed shop and Fulham have no chance with these people in charge of our games. These officials are so easily influenced by those faceless VAR cretons at Brackley Park and scared of their useless leader Howard Webb.
You can’t look at VAR decisions in matches involving the big clubs without KNOWING that there is a strong bias towards favouring those clubs. The only question is “why” and none of the possible answers is acceptable.
Webb should care about this deeply but clearly he doesn’t so, again, “why”
VAR needs to be scrapped because it is a law unto itself and is ruining our sport because it is not investigated by a higher authority, go back to how things were before it wasn’t perfect then but it was a lot better than now.
I felt so proud of the lads today we no we beat them in mind body and every thing we were so much better than them in every dept that what got up Rob Jones’s nose what we cannot beat is a corrupt system of referees higher officials etc all favouring the big clubs everytime but as soon as any body moans or complains they fine you they (the refs are and The FA are untouchable why.?
even now I am now doubting VAR who today did not even pull Jaoa Pedro handball and in the same Melay the foul on Iwobi who was pushed to the floor this shows how corrupt even VAR is becoming
To pull up a great goal of Josh King stinks of jealousy players do what Muniz does every week but you can put your house on if it had been Chelsea the goal would have stood any youngsters watching today who play grass roots football and turn there back as Sessignon did does the Ref give a penalty only if your Rob Jones
It’s now time for Howard Webb to stop this and make his Referees accountable and approachable two Refs in two weeks Kavanagh and Jones or maybe Butch and Sundance how many more
Come on Webb get some Bxxxs if you have got any and call a meeting with all premierships Chairman and be accountable but wait it’s corrupt so he won’t brilliant today boys especially Man of the Match Josh King or was it Rob Jones and his egoCOYW