Fulham manager Marco Silva did not mince words in his post-match comments following his side’s exciting 3-2 victory against Brentford, expressing irritation with what he regarded as “clear and costly” VAR errors that nearly jeopardised the outcome.
Despite winning all three points at the Gtech Community Stadium, Silva was obviously upset, notably by officiating decisions that saw Brentford handed a disputed penalty and a doubtful goal allowed to stand.
“I’ve watched it back several times. It’s not a penalty. If VAR is there to correct obvious errors, then what are we doing?” Silva questioned.
Adding to his frustrations, Brentford’s second goal—scored by Wissa shortly after he escaped a second yellow card—is hard to take despite the result.
“It’s not just about one decision. It’s about the accumulation. These are game-changing moments,” he added.
Despite the officiating controversies, Fulham managed to hold on, with a late winner sealing the three points and capping a spirited performance from Silva’s side. The win was crucial for Fulham, keeping them firmly in the hunt for a top-half finish.
“We are proud of the result. The players showed great character,” Silva said. “But I just hope we’re not sitting here again next week talking about VAR rather than the football.”
Brentford manager Thomas Frank was considerably more cautious in his comments, declining to discuss the officiating and instead focussing on his team’s performance.
However, with increasing scrutiny of VAR decisions in the Premier League, Silva’s comments are sure to revive the discussion regarding consistency and transparency in refereeing.
Fulham’s win is a morale booster. Marco Silva describes it as a moment of both triumph and lingering frustration.
