Marco Silva wasn’t happy at full-time after his Fulham side were knocked out of the FA Cup. Referee Chris Kavanagh was at the centre of a meltdown in the second half after he sent off two Fulham players as well as their manager.
It would be fair to say Fulham were the better side right up until their meltdown. They held a 1-0 lead and Manchester United are beginning to look very tired all of a sudden.
Then, over 40-seconds, Silva, Willian and Aleksander Mitrovic were sent off following the decision to award United a penalty.
Willian was sent for an early shower for his handball on the line to deny Jadon Sancho’s effort on goal, Mitrovic was shown a red card for getting physical with the referee; and Silva claims he was sent off for leaving his technical area during a VAR check.
It didn’t look like he was approaching the referee in a very friendly manner either, which presumably contributed to the referee’s decision to send him away from the technical area.
Speaking after the match, Silva made it very clear that he wasn’t happy with the referee’s performance in the quarter-final. He was also annoyed by a penalty claim being overlooked.
“We have been really unlucky with Chris Kavanagh this season, many moments. It is difficult to understand some of the decisions,” Silva said, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News.
“It has to be obvious, it is clear. It is the first moments of the game, but it doesn’t matter. It is a clear penalty on Mitro. Luke Shaw pushed Mitro, the referee is in a position to see it. VAR is for sure. Okay, it is pressure to play against Manchester United away from home at Old Trafford.
“For 70 minutes, we did it brilliantly. We were clearly the best team on the pitch, we matched them well until that moment. It is difficult to accept these type of decisions. It is a huge club, everyone knows, huge respect, it can not be. Both teams have to have the same conditions. Sometimes, because it is Fulham or Manchester United they choose differently in the same situations. The referee sometimes feels the pressure.”
United march into the FA Cup semi-finals after being drawn against Brighton.
Erik ten Hag will be delighted to have another day out at Wembley added to the schedule, though it’s about getting to the final and winning another trophy. The same applies to the Europa League and we’ve already won the Carabao Cup.
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Fulham stop your whingeing silva is the manager he should controlling his players and staff can’t behave like that.it was a penalty deliberately handball from sancho shot going in except it like a man your not a little boys anymore spitting your dummy out of the pram throwing a tantrum because William got sent off
Willian denied a goal by his hand, the rule is clear..that’s a penalty and a send off.