Silva Criticizes VAR in Fulham's Manchester City Defeat

 Silva Criticizes VAR in Fulham's Manchester City Defeat

Silva Criticizes VAR in Fulham's Manchester City Defeat(Image-Getty)

Fulham manager Marco Silva expressed his strong displeasure following a contentious goal during their 5-1 loss to Manchester City on Saturday. Silva firmly believed that this goal, scored by Nathan Ake just before halftime with the score tied at 1-1, was a critical turning point and a "huge mistake."

In the incident, it appeared that Manuel Akanji was in an offside position in front of goalkeeper Bernd Leno as he jumped to allow the ball to pass between his legs and into the net. Silva, addressing reporters, emphasized that it was an obvious offside, stating, "Everyone that plays football, has some knowledge about football, are 100% sure they have to disallow that. It's impossible to not."

Silva's frustration was shared by his players, who also believed the goal should have been disallowed. The Fulham captain, Tim Ream, noted that this goal altered the game's dynamics, leading to a less competitive second half for his team.

Erling Haaland further compounded Fulham's woes with three second-half goals, ultimately turning the match into a one-sided affair.

In contrast, Manchester City's assistant manager, Juanma Lillo, supported the referee's decision, arguing that it was more conclusive than a controversial goal Sheffield United had scored against them the previous week. Lillo emphasized that the ruling was consistent with being "in line with the ball."

However, the VAR decision faced widespread criticism on social media, with many, including former Tottenham defender Michael Dawson, disagreeing with the call. Dawson pointed out that the offside position was clear, and the confusion caused by the goal's validity had a noticeable impact on goalkeeper Leno's actions.