Fulham were on the end of a controversial refereeing decision in their Premier League clash vs Chelsea when youngster Josh King saw his goal disallowed in the first half.
King thought he had given Fulham the lead with a solo finish on the break, but referee Rob Jones disallowed the strike after reviewing a challenge from Rodrigo Muniz in the build-up.
Muniz was attempting to shield the ball in the middle from Trevoh Chalobah, accidentally putting his boot down on the Chelsea defender’s foot. Muniz actually lost control of the ball, with Marc Cucurella’s attempted clearance falling to Sander Berge to set King free into the Chelsea half.
Rob Jones checks the pitch-side monitor before disallowing a Fulham goal during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Fulham at Stamford Bridge
Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images
Jones reviewed the tackle and deemed it a ‘careless’ foul from Muniz, ruling the goal out, prompting a furious reaction from Fulham boss Marco Silva on the touchline – and the two have previous tensions from last season.
Marco Silva complained to PGMOL about referee Rob Jones last season after accusing him of favouring Aston Villa
After Fulham’s 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa in May, Silva took the rare approach of publicly criticising Rob Jones having seen five of his players booked in the clash.
Silva was also booked, triggering a one-match suspension, and he did not hold back after the game. “It was just yellow cards for Fulham,” he told TNT Sports.
“It was not just one or two, even at the end of the game, another yellow card for Fulham Football Club. It’s very difficult for us to understand.
“It’s been difficult for us to have some explanations for Rob Jones. It’s the fifth time with us this season and we all know what’s happened. It was so easy, the yellow cards for Fulham this afternoon.”
Marco Silva previously said Rob Jones was ‘not at the standard’ after Fulham game last season
In another incident earlier last season, Fulham complained to PGMOL about Jones’ officiating. Following a defeat to Crystal Palace in February, Silva again took aim at Jones, saying: “I’m the first to criticise ourselves… I can congratulate Palace but I can’t for the referee at all, it’s clear he was not at the standard.
Marco Silva manager of Fulham and Fourth official Rob Jones during the Premier League match between Fulham and Manchester United at Craven Cottage
Photo by Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images
“The performance from the referee was not at the level. It was not a good performance from us, not a good performance from the referee as well and all these details make it more difficult for us.”
Against Chelsea on Saturday, Silva was clearly furious at the VAR review into King’s goal, making his case to the fourth official. And when Jones announced his decision to rule the goal out, Silva could only offer a wry smile.
Silva waited for Jones as Fulham went into half-time behind due to Joao Pedro’s goal, with the official instructing Silva to walk down the tunnel rather than approach him.
In his career, Jones has officiated 17 Fulham games, with only three wins for the Cottagers. In those games, he has issued 34 yellow cards and no red cards to Fulham, who were on a five-game winless run in games in which Jones was the referee, prior to the Chelsea clash.