Marco Silva Criticizes Referee Brooks After VAR Overturns Decision in Man Utd vs Fulham

In a dramatic Premier League encounter, Marco Silva expressed his dissatisfaction with referee John Brooks’ decision-making during Fulham’s match against Manchester United. The incident that sparked controversy occurred when Brooks awarded a penalty to United following a challenge on Matheus Cunha in the first half.

Controversy Over VAR Decision

The penalty was awarded after Cunha went down following a tackle from Fulham’s Jorge Cuenca. However, video replays indicated that Cuenca had successfully won the ball. The Decision Review System (VAR), managed by James Bell, overturned Brooks’ original verdict, citing a pre-existing foul for shirt pulling by Cuenca on Cunha outside the penalty box.

Silva’s Reaction

Silva, who received a booking for his protests, described the penalty decision as “horrendous” and a “big mistake.” He contested that Brooks initially ruled the penalty based solely on the tackle. Silva stated, “It was the first time we have seen in the Premier League that the referee gave a penalty from a tackle, and the VAR came back with a free-kick for a different foul.”

Understanding the VAR Process

According to the Premier League Match Centre, the foul committed by Cuenca had technically ended before the incident transpired inside the box. Nevertheless, Silva maintained that the communication he received indicated the penalty stemmed from the tackle.

• Key Incident: Penalty awarded for a tackle that was later overturned.
• VAR Intervention: Free-kick given for a shirt pull outside the box.
• Silva’s Comments: Deemed the situation a significant oversight by Brooks.

Additional Disallowed Goal

Fulham faced further disappointment when a second-half goal from Samuel Chukwueze was disallowed for offside following nearly four minutes of VAR review. Silva remarked, “The main thing from VAR is to correct things and make it right. Definitely not to over-referee the game or go in a different direction.”

He further highlighted that small margins have negatively impacted Fulham this season, reflecting on previous instances of goals disallowed by minor offside calls. Silva concluded, “We have to accept it. We cannot control it.”

This match exemplifies the ongoing debates surrounding VAR and its application in professional football, prompting fans and pundits alike to question the effectiveness of the technology in enhancing the game.