Silva Slams ‘Unbelievable’ VAR Decisions

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.

Hemmyend.com