Marco Silva says he “cannot understand” how Fulham were not awarded two penalties as they fell to defeat against Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday.
Raul Jimenez opened the scoring when he headed in from a corner, but the Mexican striker may have injured himself in the process as he was replaced by Adama Traore after just ten minutes.
Claims for a penalty were waved away by referee Andy Madley after Josh King went down in the box. The teenager was instead booked for simulation for the second weekend in a row.
There were more shouts for a penalty when King had a shot blocked by the wayward arm of Matty Cash, but those too went ignored.
The game flipped on its head when Ollie Watkins ended his nine-game goal drought before halftime, lobbing Bernd Leno for his first goal since May. John McGinn and Emi Buendia both found the net in the second half to complete the comeback.
Marco Silva fumes over refereeing decisions in Villa defeat
Silva congratulated Villa on the victory while admitting Fulham “have to blame ourselves more” for the end result, before taking aim at the match officials and VAR for the many decisions that have gone against his side this season.
“I have watched the moments now and for me, they are incredible,” he told Sky Sports. “I respect and they will try and explain but we cannot understand.
“Again this afternoon, we don’t need anyone to educate Josh King. Josh King already has two yellow cards in the Premier League and they disallowed a goal from him. It is very difficult for me to say that (Emi) Martinez is not a penalty. If a player is taken out inside the box, it is a penalty everywhere in the world. Don’t try to educate Josh King because we can do it inside our football club.
“I want to question them (the officials). I would like them to explain how it (Cash’s arm) was in a normal body position. And if it was then okay but I want to ask about Ryan Sessegnon against Chelsea, which was explained how that was a penalty.
“It has been very difficult for us and I started the conversations about what we can control. The other things in six games is too much for Fulham Football Club and we cannot control.”
