Fulham boss Marco Silva lets rip at VAR after being left furious during Chelsea defeat

Fulham news Marco Silva Chelsea

Fulham boss Marco Silva has vented his fury at VAR after his side lost 2-0 to Chelsea in the west London derby on Saturday

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REUTERS

Jack Otway

By Jack Otway


Published: 30/08/2025

- 16:01

Updated: 30/08/2025

- 19:35

The Cottagers were furious during Saturday's clash

Fulham boss Marco Silva has vented his fury at VAR after his side lost 2-0 to Chelsea in the west London derby on Saturday.

The Blues secured all three points following goals from Joao Pedro and Enzo Fernandez.


Yet Fulham can count themselves unlucky, with VAR drama erupting during the contest at Stamford Bridge.

First, the visitors were aggrieved when Josh King saw his goal disallowed by referee Rob Jones following a VAR intervention.

Josh KingJosh King thought he'd given Fulham the lead in their Premier League clash with Chelsea | REUTERS

Rodrigo Muniz was penalised for a foul on Trevoh Chalobah, with that call leaving Silva enraged on the bench.

In the second half, and for Chelsea's second goal, there was more controversy.

Ryan Sessegnon was adjudged to have handled the ball, with a penalty given, despite Pedro seemingly being guilty of handball first.

Fernandez did the rest, with the Argentina international scoring from 12 yards to make the result safe for Enzo Maresca's side.

JUST IN: Four things we learnt as VAR drama explodes during Chelsea win over Fulham

Silva cut an increasingly angry figure on the touchline as the match went on.

And the former Watford and Everton boss has now vented his fury, branding the officiating 'shocking'.

He fumed: "[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.

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Chelsea Enzo Fernandez Fulham

Fulham gave away a penalty in the second half against Chelsea, with Enzo Fernandez scoring for the Blues

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REUTERS

"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.

"There 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.

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Marco SilvaMarco Silva cut a frustrated figure as Fulham lost to Chelsea | REUTERS

"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."

King also expressed his disappointment.

The 18-year-old said: "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."