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Fulham boss Marco Silva claims referee Chris Kavanagh was ’embarrassed’ by VAR’s decision to allow Gianluca Scamacca’s goal after a big screen replay at the London Stadium showed handball of West Ham- rush in run-up
- Fulham were furious after seeing a replay of the goal on the big screen
- VAR was not convinced that Gianluca Scamacca had used his hand to control the ball
- Marco Silva was shown a yellow card for his protests after the goal was allowed to stand
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Fulham boss Marco Silva said referee Chris Kavanagh was ’embarrassed’ after seeing replays of Gianluca Scamacca’s goal on the big screens, insisting it showed a clear handball in the run-up.
Over the course of an odd three minutes, Scamacca’s lob was examined by VAR Michael Salisbury, who wanted evidence that the West Ham striker was using his hand to control the ball. When Salisbury couldn’t find a clear corner, the goal was allowed to stand and the Hammers took a 2-1 lead.
The big screens at London Stadium showed the replays – as they do with every goal – which infuriated Fulham players, coaches, staff and supporters, who complained to Kavanagh.
VAR Michael Salisbury was not convinced Gianluca Scamacca had used his hand to control the ball ahead of West Ham’s second goal
Fulham were furious after watching a replay of the goal on the big screen at London Stadium
They insisted it showed Scamacca handling the ball before booing Bernd Leno, although the umpire was never sent to his monitor on the field to see for himself.
Silva initially copied Jose Mourinho in his post-match press conference, claiming he would be in trouble if he spoke, but the Fulham boss noted: “He (Kavanagh) was ashamed, as was I, when he saw it on screen. saw. It’s hard for him to say anything more.
“The decision came from someone from VAR and he has to respect that decision, but I could see from his face when I spoke to him after the game that he was ashamed because he saw it on the screen as I saw it and everyone else saw it too .’
Scamacca scored the Hammers’ second goal with a confident move over the head from Bernd Leno
Asked about Kavanagh, Silva continued: “I won’t talk about the referee, sorry because they will probably come after me and I will be off the bench or pay a fine. I’m not here for that. I’m here to manage my players. I won’t tell you what I think. Can I ask you what you think? Even before the third goal there was a handball five seconds earlier. Congratulations to West Ham.’
West Ham manager David Moyes disagreed that Scamacca had the ball in his hands, saying: “I saw it when it hit the big screens. I don’t see a hand in it. With Fulham, you’re going to say you definitely see a hand. But I can’t see anything that changes the direction of the ball.
“It took so long, I thought it would eventually work against us, but it worked for us.”
Fulham boss Marco Silva was shown a yellow card for his protests after the goal was allowed to stand