FULHAM head coach Marco Silva launched into an explosive rant following a “horrendous decision” in his side’s 3-2 loss at Manchester United.
Silva was booked after protesting against United‘s controversial opener from a free-kick after the hosts had a penalty decision overturned.
The fiery Portuguese effectively accused referee John Brooks and his VAR team of making it up as they went along after Casemiro put the hosts in front after a bizarre moment in the game.
The home side were initially awarded a penalty by referee John Brooks for a Jorge Cuenca pullback on Matheus Cunha, with officials looking at different stages of play.
However, VAR James Bell overturned it as the final contact was outside the area, resulting in a free-kick being awarded.
United skipper Bruno Fernandes floated the dead-ball to the far post and Casemiro headed home in the 19th minute.
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A fuming Silva said: “It is what it is. Difficult but we have to accept it.
“The story of the game started with a horrendous terrible decision from John Brooks with the penalty he gave.
“Horrendous decision from that moment, big, big mistake. We have to take all this frustration to win the next one.”
Fans inside Old Trafford thought Brooks blew for a tackle on Cunha by the backline with replays showing Cuenca had cleanly won the ball.
The check then moved to the first passage of play on the edge of the box, with Bell and his assistant Edward Smart finding a tug on Cunha.
Fulham sub Calvin Bassey was spotted standing up and arguing with a few fans in the Bobby Charlton Stand as Silva was issued a yellow card for dissent.
Silva said: “That freekick, my god. It was a bad, bad decision from Brooks. The feedback we got on the touchline was completely different to what happened.
“I feel for my players, I feel our fans but we have to respect the people in charge.
“I know why the penalty was given. VAR went in a completely different direction to find something to find a free-kick that was not the reason why the penalty was given.
“But I don’t want to get more cards because I want to be on the touchline. I don’t want to speak more.”
United secured a dramatic late win as Benjamin Sesko’s goal at the death earned back-to-back 3-2 wins to move fourth in the Premier League table.
Michael Carrick’s side had been leading until the 85th minute, before imploding after Raul Jimenez’s expert penalty and sub Kevin’s thunderous equaliser.
Cunha had brilliantly doubled United’s lead after half-time before Cuenca had a goal chalked off for a marginal offside by Samuel Chukwueze in the build-up.
A decision finally went Fulham’s way when Harry Maguire felled Harry Wilson in the area, allowing Jimenez to score from the spot.
Silva, who was sent off here last season in Fulham’s penalty shootout FA Cup win over United, has been vaguely linked with the permanent United job when his Fulham contract expires in the summer.
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