Fulham boss Marco Silva was left fuming at ‘shocking’ decisions after a 2-0 defeat to Chelsea.
Marco Silva has demanded an explanation from the Premier League after questioning three “shocking” refereeing decisions in Fulham’s defeat to the Blues.
Speaking to BBC Sport after the game, Fulham boss Silva said of the controversial decisions: “[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.”
Continuing to express his frustration towards referee Jones and the video assistant referee (VAR), Silva added: “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.”
Enzo Maresca however seemed to disagree with Marco Silva.
“No, it was quite clear it was handball. Again, the idea was penalty, but then they reviewed it, and it was a bit long to wait to be honest. But at the end, it was a penalty,” he said.
Despite the victory, Maresca was not pleased with his side’s first-half performance.
“We were not good enough first half, but brilliant in the second half. For me, this is my analysis of the game,” he said.
“In the first half, we didn’t keep the ball, we didn’t win duels, and these are the kind of things you need. Second half, we did the right things.”
He added: “For me it’s quite simple. We didn’t play or build the game in the way we prepared to do so. In this kind of game, you need to win duels and second balls, and we didn’t win any duels. Second half, we were brilliant.”