Crystal Palace beat Fulham 3-0 in Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final, but the match could have taken a different route had Adam Wharton been sent off in the first half
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Marco Silva was left incensed by referee Darren England's failure to send off Adam Wharton
Fulham boss Marco Silva was left fuming after Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton escaped what could have been a game-changing red card in their FA Cup quarter-final.
Wharton had already been booked when he flicked out a boot and caught Fulham forward Rodrigo Muniz midway through the first half at Craven Cottage. Referee Darren England decided that the incident wasn't worth a second yellow, and he wasn't sent to the screen by the video assistant referee.
With Wharton still on the pitch Palace began to run away with the game, and Eberechi Eze superbly fired Oliver Glasner's side ahead before teeing up Ismaila Sarr for the second. Substitute Eddie Nketiah then wrapped up the 3-0 win in the second period.
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The Wharton incident was a hot topic among pundits working on the game, with the former Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer telling BBC Radio Five Live: "I think Wharton has lashed out a little bit there.
"He clearly kicks out at him. It seems a petulant swing and I think that is the only reason he has got away with that. I think he is very fortunate that they haven’t taken it any further."
Adam Wharton escaped with just the one yellow card in the first half
Adam Wharton escaped with just the one yellow card in the first half(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
On ITV, ex-Crystal Palace forward Ian Wright added: "It is risky. I think he is very fortunate that the laws are so complicated. [VAR] can’t look at that for some reason.
"You could probably get booked for that. He is very fortunate to get away with that because he has kicked out at him. It’s not violent conduct but he’s clipped him."
Fulham boss Silva claimed that the decision completely changed the game, telling ITV: "For me it is clear, it's a second yellow card but we are used to these kind of situations.
Eberechi Eze inspired Palace to victory
Eberechi Eze inspired Palace to victory(Image: Getty Images)
"I prefer to say we are unlucky but it has been a long story with us. Of course VAR cannot overturn this decision but you have many eyes inside the pitch, the linesman has all the angles to see it, the fourth official.
"It is a clear second yellow card, definitely. It would have a massive impact on the game but against us it is always more difficult to see. We have been unlucky in these type of situations and let's hope it will be balanced at the end of the season."
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