EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Mandatory Credit: Photo by George Tewkesbury/Shutterstock (15460324ca) Joshua King of Fulham celebrates with teammate Rodrigo Muniz (left) after scoring their side's first goal of the game before the goal is ruled out by VAR Chelsea v Fulham, Premier League, Football, Stamford Bridge, London, UK - 30 Aug 2025
Josh King thought he’d opened the scoring for Fulham against Chelsea (Credits: Shutterstock)
Joe Cole accused VAR of sanitising football after Josh King’s goal was controversially ruled out during Saturday’s west London derby between Chelsea and Fulham.
The Cottagers appeared to have taken the lead and capitalise on a bright start when teenager King latched onto Sander Berge’s through ball, twisted away from Tosin Adarabioyo and wrong-footed Robert Sanchez.
King, 18, celebrated gleefully after opening his Premier League account but joy turned to frustration and bemusement when referee Rob Jones was ordered to review the goal on the touchline monitor.
The match official was asked to review an incident earlier in the move which had seen Rodrigo Muniz win possession ahead of Trevoh Chalobah, but the Brazil striker had unwittingly stood on his opponent’s foot.
After a brief deliberation, Jones addressed the Stamford Bridge crowd and disallowed the goal, ruling that Muniz had committed a careless foul, much to the disdain of Cole.
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‘To sanitise football like that the kid, the 18-year-old Fulham lad has run away to the halfway line celebrating after scoring his first goal in the Premier League,’ Cole said on TNT Sport.
‘To take it off him for that? Like I say, it’s not a tickling contest. I don’t like this nitpicking.
‘He stood on Chalobah’s ankle and there was contact, I can understand the rules of the game. It wasn’t a careless challenge, it was just two professional footballers going in for a challenge and there was a bit of contact.
‘I don’t like it in football when you’re chalking off goals for that. It makes it too santised.’
Cole was far from alone in voicing exasperation at a decision that robbed King, who has been with Fulham since he was eight, a story book moment.
Why Josh King goal was disallowed
After VAR review, the referee overturned the original decision of goal to Fulham.
Referee announcement: ‘After review, Fulham number nine commits a careless challenge, stands on the foot of the Chelsea defender, therefore we disallow the goal and we restart with a Chelsea free kick. There would be no further action.’
‘VAR killing this young man’s moment,’ said Rio Ferdinand on X, while Jamie Carragher opined ‘VAR has had a shocking start to the season.’
‘For me, I think that goal should always have stood,’ argued former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha.
‘I think Trevor Chalobah has got away with murder and I think the fact he stayed on the floor sold it to them to go and have a look.’
Soccer Football - Premier League - Chelsea v Fulham - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - August 30, 2025 Fulham's Rodrigo Muniz fouls Chelsea's Trevoh Chalobah before Fulham's Josh King goal is disallowed following a VAR review Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO USE WITH UNAUTHORIZED AUDIO, VIDEO, DATA, FIXTURE LISTS, CLUB/LEAGUE LOGOS OR 'LIVE' SERVICES. ONLINE IN-MATCH USE LIMITED TO 120 IMAGES, NO VIDEO EMULATION. NO USE IN BETTING, GAMES OR SINGLE CLUB/LEAGUE/PLAYER PUBLICATIONS. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE FOR FURTHER DETAILS..
Rodrigo Muniz was adjudged to have fouled Trevoh Chalobah (Credits: Action Images via Reuters)
Another former Premier League centre-half, Curtis Davies, meanwhile, took issue with Jones on-pitch explanation.
He said: ‘I’d rather VAR said it was a dangerous play because that would make more sense as he stepped on him.
‘But he has the ball so it’s not a tackle. He’s already taken his first touch of the ball but that’s where his back foot lands.
‘I’m fuming. I’m watching this Fulham team that have done really well today and Marco Silva has had to sit down to calm himself down.’
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