January 13th 2024.
Fulham's manager Marco Silva expressed his disappointment with VAR's decision not to recommend a red card for Malo Gusto's challenge on Willian during Chelsea's 1-0 win over their west London rivals on Saturday. Despite bouncing back from their midweek, Carabao Cup defeat, the Blues faced some controversy when Gusto's straight leg tackle caught Willian on his ankle. However, despite VAR's presence, referee Anthony Taylor was not advised to review the decision on the pitchside monitor.
Silva was left perplexed by this outcome and criticized the inconsistency in VAR's decisions, stating that in similar situations, nine times out of ten it would result in a red card. He also revealed that the fourth official, Simon Hooper, agreed with his opinion that Gusto should have been sent off. As for the match itself, Silva felt that Fulham had created some problems for Chelsea and had a good chance to score before the penalty that led to the Blues' first-half injury time goal.
Silva also pointed out that the game was more open in the second half, with both teams having their chances to score. However, he believed that Chelsea had more space to exploit their attacking players' pace and quality. When asked about Gusto's challenge, Silva stated that it was a clear red card and VAR should have made the decision, not the referee. He also mentioned that the fourth official agreed with his opinion, but it was ultimately up to VAR to make the call.
Silva acknowledged that the decision was not solely responsible for Fulham's defeat, but it certainly had an impact on the game. He also expressed his frustration with the inconsistency in VAR decisions throughout the season, stating that this type of tackle has resulted in a red card nine times out of ten in similar situations. Silva also mentioned that the Chelsea staff felt their academy star should have been given a chance instead of their struggling £32 million signing. In other transfer news, Manchester United offered a winger in exchange for a £69 million star, while Arsenal considered a £50 million target as an alternative to Ivan Toney.
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