“Terrible decision!” – Marco Silva blasts VAR after Manchester United snatch stoppage-time win over Fulham

Fulham boss Marco Silva did not hold back in his criticism of VAR following his side’s 3-2 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon. Despite a spirited display, Silva’s team fell agonisingly short, with Benjamin Šeško scoring a dramatic stoppage-time winner to secure United’s third consecutive Premier League victory.

The match started in United’s favour, with the hosts pressing aggressively. Early opportunities fell to Amad and Harry Maguire, but both were denied by Fulham goalkeeper Senne Lammens, who produced a sharp reaction to keep his side in the game. Fulham responded, creating chances of their own, before the first goal arrived just before the 20-minute mark. Casemiro rose highest to meet Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick at the back post, heading home with precision to give United the lead.

Heading into the break 1-0 up, Manchester United looked in control, but Fulham returned after half-time with renewed vigour. Matheus Cunha doubled United’s advantage with a fine strike, only for Raúl Jiménez to respond from the penalty spot, halving the deficit. The drama intensified deep into stoppage time, when Kevin leveled the score for Fulham, seemingly setting the stage for a draw. However, substitute Šeško produced a composed finish in the dying seconds, securing all three points for United and keeping Michael Carrick’s team in the top four.

Yet much of the post-match discussion was dominated not by the late drama but by a contentious VAR decision. Manchester United were initially awarded a penalty in the first half for a tussle between Cunha and Fulham defender Jorge Cuenca. Replays, however, showed that Cuenca got a touch on the ball during the challenge, prompting VAR to overturn the spot-kick. Instead, United were awarded a free-kick outside the box, from which Casemiro scored, giving United the perfect start.

Speaking after the match with Sky Sports, Silva was openly furious about the decision. “The story of the game started with a horrendous, terrible decision from John Brooks with the penalty he gave,” Silva said. “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. We have to take all this frustration to win the next one.”

Silva’s frustration extended to VAR, which he claimed “found” a foul outside the box on Cunha to justify the free-kick. “The penalty was given by the tackle. After, because the decision was so bad, they found a different foul,” Silva continued. “I feel 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.”

The Fulham manager refused to discuss the incident further with referee John Brooks, adding: “I don’t want get more cards because I want to be on the touchline. I don’t want to speak more.”

Despite Silva’s strong words, VAR’s decision followed the correct protocol. While no foul occurred inside the penalty area when Cunha and Cuenca challenged for the ball, Cuenca had indeed committed a foul outside the box, holding Cunha’s shirt and impeding his movement. This resulted in a correctly awarded free-kick, rather than a penalty.

From a tactical perspective, Silva’s ire seems more like a reaction to the late defeat than a genuine grievance with the decision. Manchester United’s comeback, culminating in Šeško’s stoppage-time strike, underlined the difficulty of securing points at Old Trafford. Fulham’s defensive lapses in the dying minutes, rather than VAR, were ultimately to blame for the loss.

The result keeps United riding high under Michael Carrick, who has now claimed three wins from three matches in charge.  Silva’s comments on VAR, while explosive, may serve more to deflect attention from his team’s final-minute vulnerability than to change the outcome.