Chelsea 2-0 Fulham (Pedro 45+9′, Fernandez pen 56′)
STAMFORD BRIDGE — When the Premier League introduced Video Assistant Referees in 2019, it was to correct “clear and obvious errors”. Six years on and the technology is being used for a different purpose: to re-referee matches in super slow motion.
Josh King joined Fulham at the age of eight. Ten years on, he is playing regularly for the first team, living out the fantasy of every academy player in the country.
How many times over the past decade has he dreamt of his first Fulham goal? In his wildest dreams did he imagine it would be as good as this? And would come against Chelsea in a west London derby?
A sweeping counter-attacking move resulted in King racing through on goal from Sander Berge’s pass with only Tosin Adarabioyo between him and Robert Sanchez’s goal.
King reached the ball first, skillfully squirmed away from the man mountain in front of him and wrong-footed Sanchez with a low drive at his near post. It was a fine goal, displaying King’s composure, confidence and class.
King celebrated as the occasion willed him to; alas, unbridled joy was short-lived. A ruthless prosecutor sat behind a TV screen and delivered their damning judgement: no goal. Rodrigo Muniz was deemed to have committed the infringement after landing studs down on Trevoh Chalobah’s foot.
“I think it was a perfectly good goal but obviously there’s not much we can do,” King told TNT Sports after.
“It was probably one of the best feelings I’ve ever felt, to be honest, that elation and having the team around me and stuff.
“It was unbelievable and hopefully I can replicate that and it be counted next time.”
King’s disallowed goal
The Brazilian was guilty of committing a “careless challenge” according to referee Rob Jones. Except it wasn’t careless in the slightest, but a natural movement of limbs. Where was his foot supposed to go?
It may have been a sore one for Chalobah, but he’s doubtless faced far worse in his career. It was a natural coming together between two players going for the ball. If anything, Chalobah mistimed his challenge, given Muniz had already released the ball to a teammate.
You can watch it below:
Nobody thought it was a foul in real time. The footage was slowed down to within an inch of its life to manifest the transgression into existence. Perhaps the Premier League is hoping to pioneer a “touch tackle” system and eliminate any contact whatsoever, just to be on the safe side.
“Rob has been sucked in by the VAR [Michael Salisbury], he has just landed on his foot, which can only go in one place, it is a poor, poor call,” said former Premier League referee Mike Dean.
“The VAR should just stay out of it. It is not a clear and obvious error, but he did not have the nerve to stick with the on-field decision; he panicked, it is just not a foul at all. I do not know anybody who would say that was a foul.”
“VAR has had a shocking start to the season,” tweeted Jamie Carragher, as though VAR was an out-of-sorts centre-back and not unfit-for-use technology.
Marco Silva was so incensed that you expected to see steam rising from his temple. So were the Fulham supporters after seeing the replays on the big screen. Who could blame them?
Chelsea’s opening goal
The Fulham manager’s mood wasn’t helped by the timing of Chelsea’s opening goal, scored by Joao Pedro, which came 45 seconds past the eight allocated minutes at the end of the first half. That lengthy stoppage was largely due to the time taken to wipe out King’s effort.
Corner kicks in added time are a footballing grey area. Some referees blow for half or full-time regardless of whether a team has won one or not, while others allow them to play out. It’s the lack of consistency that prompts such annoyance.
Silva stared down Jones after he had belatedly blown the half-time whistle, before striding onto the pitch to query his decision. He had the cursed demeanour of a man who had just spilt coffee all over his new white trainers.
Pedro’s handball
Fulham fell two behind after half-time after further VAR controversy.
Ryan Sessegnon committed the cardinal sin of turning his back when facing a cross and could have few complaints about the penalty award against him for handball.
However, moments before that, the ball had flicked up onto Pedro’s arm. It was unintentional, but had Jones blown for an infringement then, the subsequent sequence of play wouldn’t have occurred.
Jones took an age to award it after being sent to the pitchside monitor for the second time of the afternoon.
There was confusion all around Stamford Bridge as he appeared to motion for no penalty before then drawing out the screen with his fingers and pointing towards the spot. Enzo Fernandez duly dispatched it to settle the contest.
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For the second weekend running, Fulham felt robbed. Lenny Yoro somehow escaped punishment for pushing Calvin Bassey in the back to force a Muniz own goal during last Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Manchester United.
As the game meandered towards an inevitable conclusion, Fulham fans directed their ire at Jones. “You’re not fit to referee,” they chanted, followed by “2-0 to the referee”.
In the pre-VAR days, they could have been toasting a rare victory away at their rivals. Instead, the post-match pints left a bitter aftertaste.