“The corruption level just keeps increasing. How can we keep trusting this VAR when they are not doing the right thing. We cannot keep on doing this. The game didn’t go as it was supposed to” – Fulham manager Marco Silva criticizes VAR following several incidents during the match against Chelsea and the FA are planning to take serious action against the officials of the game.

Keith Hackett criticized the decision to disallow Josh King’s goal for Fulham against Chelsea, calling it an example of poor officiating.

The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official told Football Insider that referee Rob Jones should have ignored VAR’s advice and reviewed the incident himself. Hackett argued that Jones did not need VAR’s interference and should have told VAR operator Michael Salisbury to “get lost.”

Fulham had already experienced frustration in their previous match, when Rodrigo Muniz’s own goal against Manchester United was allowed despite a push from Leny Yoro, which both the referee and VAR failed to address.

Against Chelsea, after a tight first half, Muniz seemed to have redeemed himself by setting up King for his first senior goal for Fulham. However, VAR intervened, disallowing the goal due to a “careless challenge” from Muniz on Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah in the build-up.

Hackett expressed disappointment over the decision, stating that the challenge was not a foul and the goal should have stood. He criticized the overuse of VAR, arguing that it was an overreach and that football should recognize the physical nature of the sport.

In Hackett’s view, the decision was emblematic of poor officiating, which, he believed, was undermining the integrity of the game and driving fans away. He called for more discretion from referees and a reduction in the forensic use of VAR.