Fulham Boss Fumes Over Refereeing Decisions in Thrilling Old Trafford Clash
Fulham manager Marco Silva has unleashed a scathing attack on referee John Brooks, branding his performance "horrendous" after his team suffered a gut-wrenching late defeat against Manchester United. The dramatic Premier League encounter at Old Trafford on Sunday saw Fulham fight back from two goals down, only to concede a stoppage-time winner that left Silva seething with officiating decisions.
Late Drama Sees United Snatch Victory from Fulham's Grasp
The match unfolded as a classic Premier League thriller, with Manchester United initially taking control through goals from Casemiro and Matheus Cunha. Fulham appeared destined for a comprehensive defeat until a remarkable late resurgence. Raul Jimenez converted an 85th-minute penalty before Kevin curled in a spectacular equaliser during the first minute of injury time, sending the travelling supporters into raptures.
Their joy proved painfully short-lived as substitute Benjamin Sesko hammered home a winner even deeper into stoppage time, securing a memorable 3-2 victory for Michael Carrick's Red Devils. While the match-winner celebrated what he described as an "unbelievable" moment, Silva's post-match focus remained firmly fixed on the officiating.
Silva's Fury Over Controversial First-Half Incident
The Fulham boss reserved particular ire for a first-half incident where Brooks initially awarded Manchester United a penalty, only for VAR to overturn the decision. Silva acknowledged his team's "top performance" in the second half, praising how they controlled possession and overcame United's high press, but he couldn't overlook what he deemed a game-defining error.
"The story of the game started with a horrendous terrible decision from John Brooks with the penalty he gave," Silva told Sky Sports. "Horrendous decision from that moment, big, big mistake. It was the first time we saw all the Premier League fans and us coaches and players."
Silva expressed confusion over how the situation ultimately resulted in a free-kick for United, from which they scored their opening goal. "The penalty was given by the tackle. After, because the decision was so bad, they found a different foul," he explained. "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."
Restrained Frustration and Focus on Future Fixtures
When asked whether he had confronted the referee after the final whistle, Silva revealed he deliberately avoided further confrontation to prevent potential disciplinary action. "I don't want to get more cards because I want to be on the touchline. I don't want to speak more," he stated, demonstrating a pragmatic approach despite his evident frustration.
The Portuguese manager emphasised his empathy for Fulham's players and supporters, acknowledging the collective disappointment while urging his squad to channel their emotions positively. "I feel my players, I feel our fans but we have to respect the people in charge," Silva said. "We have to take all this frustration to win the next one."
Contrasting Emotions in the Manchester United Camp
While Silva grappled with officiating controversies, Manchester United celebrated a significant victory that extends their promising run under caretaker manager Michael Carrick. Match-winner Benjamin Sesko, who came off the bench to score his dramatic late goal, described the moment as something he had "been dreaming about."
"Scoring at home and scoring the winner is unbelievable," Sesko told Sky Sports. "We are on a really great run right now and we are just hoping that we can continue to work hard like that to win games. I'm really happy that I could help the team out."
Carrick expressed particular delight for the summer signing, who has yet to start a match under his management. "I'm just so delighted for him. He totally deserves it," Carrick said. "It's a huge moment for all of us but for him especially. He deserves it. He's been fantastic since I came here. He'll remember that feeling for quite some time."
The dramatic encounter has reignited debates about refereeing standards in the Premier League, with Silva's forceful criticism likely to attract scrutiny from football authorities. As Fulham regroup for their next fixture, the fallout from this controversial defeat continues to overshadow what was otherwise a thrilling display of Premier League football.
