Marco Silva accepts red card for himself and Aleksandar Mitrovic but laments ‘inconsistencies’ after Willian’s dismissal and Fulham penalty demands
Marco Silva admits he crossed a line before being sent off but believes his Fulham side were given a rough ride in their FA Cup loss to Manchester United.
Fulham looked set for a famous FA Cup victory at Old Trafford before a chaotic minute saw Silva along with players Willian and Aleksandar Mitrovic sent off by referee Chris Kavanagh.
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It all went wrong after Willian was penalized for blocking Sancho’s shot with his hand
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Silva was sent off before Kavanagh even decided to give a penalty
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Mitrovic was also fired for his dissent
Willian was sent off for blocking a Jadon Sancho shot over the goal line with his arm, resulting in a Man United penalty.
A corner was first given before VAR advised Kavanagh to re-examine the incident. As Kavanagh watched replays on the pitchside monitor, Silva ran and yelled at him, resulting in the Portuguese being sent off.
And Mitrovic was then given his marching orders for berating and shoving Kavanagh, leaving Fulham with nine men and without a manager in the latter part of the draw which they lost 3-1.
Silva admits he and Mitrovic should have handled things better but pointed to some ‘inconsistencies’ in the refereeing, saying the Serbian striker should have been awarded a penalty in the first half.
Silva told talkSPORT: “It’s hard to come to terms with certain decisions… I’m not saying VAR didn’t do well but why didn’t they do it twice in the first half ?” Mitrovic in the penalty area…
“It’s hard for us to understand. For me it is clear that there are two moments. The first is clear, clear clear penalty when Luke Shaw pushed Mitrovic – clear cut penalty. Later, there were a bunch of players pushing Mitrovic in the back.
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Silva admits he let his emotions get the better of him, but worries about the perceived lack of consistency in officiating.
“It’s hard to understand why with Manchester United they do one thing and why with Fulham they don’t do the other thing.
“At this moment of course with the red card for Willian, we should control it in a different way. Our emotions, I should be on the touchline and shouldn’t talk with the referee the moment he goes to see the match. ‘screen.
“If that’s why he gave me the red card, I have to accept it. I shouldn’t have gone. [to him].
“And of course, at that time, Mitro should control the emotions.”
Mitrovic pushed referee Kavanagh after Willian’s red card
The Cottagers boss also expressed his disappointment at Kavanagh being in charge of a second successive FA Cup game for Fulham, while also referring to how his side ended up on the wrong side of decisions made by Kavanagh. earlier this season.
Silva added: “I think we’ve had three games with Chris Kavanagh this season. First game – and with all due respect – we played West Ham and lost with two handball goals. Then we had an important game for the FA Cup at home.
“And the game after we have Chris Kavanagh again. Two FA Cup matches with the same referees.
“It’s hard for us to understand some things. Of course, more difficult than that, because it’s beyond our control, are the inconsistencies.
“About Willian, if he thinks Willian did it on purpose, I’d like to know where Willian can put his hand at that moment… I didn’t see him move his hand towards the ball.”
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Willian blocked a shot that was heading with his arm but Silva suggested there was no intention on the Brazilian’s part
On Mitrovic, Silva said: “I’ve spoken with him before. I have to be there on the touchline in the most difficult times for our players, that’s the first thing of course.
“I would like to see if they are going to give managers red cards every time when they are out of the area on the touchline.
“As I said, I’ve already spoken with Mitro. He should control himself in a different way, in this situation. I think a referee with experience at that time could give a yellow card – he’s emotional at this point in the match, Mitro was involved in two moments from the penalty area in the first half and no one said anything to check.
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