Chelsea’s clash with Fulham at Stamford Bridge descended into controversy on Saturday after a Fulham goal was controversially disallowed following a VAR review – sparking fury from fans, pundits, and former players alike.
The visitors thought they had taken the lead midway through the first half when Josh King finished off a sharp attacking move, leaving Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez with no chance.
Fulham’s players wheeled away in celebration, only for referee Rob Jones to be summoned to the pitchside monitor.
Replays showed a tangle between Rodrigo Muniz and Trevoh Chalobah in the build-up, with Muniz appearing to tread on Chalobah’s foot near the halfway line.
Josh King's opening goal is disallowed for a 'careless challenge' after VAR review ❌
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After a lengthy check, Jones deemed the contact a foul and stunned the away bench by chalking off the strike.
Explaining the call to the stadium, Jones announced: “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.”
The ruling left Fulham manager Marco Silva incandescent on the touchline and triggered an avalanche of criticism from former professionals and supporters.
Many argued that Muniz had simply won the ball and the coming together was accidental rather than worthy of intervention.
Ex-Premier League defender Curtis Davies was among the most vocal critics while working on BBC Radio 5 Live.
“I'm fuming and I'm a defender and usually I'm on the side of the defender,” Davies said.
“Trevoh Chalobah has gone for a tackle that was never in his favour. Rodrigo Muniz takes the ball and accidentally steps on his foot.
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Rodrigo Muniz was penalised for a foul on Trevoh Chalobah during the Premier League clash between Chelsea and Fulham
|REUTERS
"I don't know how that's a foul, never mind taking off the goal. It’s ridiculous.”
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher also weighed in on social media, taking aim at the broader use of VAR this season.
“VAR has had a shocking start to the season,” he wrote on X, echoing the frustrations of many watching.
Supporters quickly joined the chorus, with hundreds flooding social platforms to brand the incident “one of the worst VAR decisions in Premier League history.”
Fulham fans in particular were left aggrieved, pointing out that King’s finish came after a passage of play several phases removed from the initial contact.
The flashpoint only adds to the pressure already mounting on officials following a string of contentious calls across the opening weeks of the season.
While the Premier League and refereeing body PGMOL have consistently defended the use of technology as a way to reach “clear and obvious” decisions, critics argue Saturday’s ruling at Stamford Bridge showed the system is still undermining the spectacle.
As for Fulham, Silva and his players were left to stew on what might have been.
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Josh King thought he'd given Fulham the lead in their Premier League clash with Chelsea
|REUTERS
Chelsea have picked up four points from their opening two league fixtures, having drawn with Crystal Palace and beaten West Ham.
As for Fulham, Silva's side have two points following stalemates with Brighton and Manchester United.