Chelsea Beat Fulham 2-0 Amid VAR Controversy at Stamford Bridge
It was another dramatic afternoon in the Premier League as Chelsea secured a 2–0 victory over Fulham at Stamford Bridge, but the game will mostly be remembered for the controversies surrounding VAR decisions.
The match began with Fulham looking lively and confident. In the 21st minute, Josh King thought he had given his side the lead when he cut inside and fired a low shot into the bottom corner. His celebration was cut short, however, when referee Rob Jones was called to the pitchside monitor by VAR official Michael Salisbury. The review showed Rodrigo Muniz stepping on Trevoh Chalobah’s foot in the buildup. After a lengthy pause, the goal was disallowed for what was judged a “careless challenge.” The decision infuriated Fulham manager Marco Silva, who described it as “unbelievable” and insisted the goal should have stood.
Former referee Mike Dean also criticized the call, suggesting there was not enough in the incident to overturn the original on-field decision. Pundits like Jamie Carragher went further, calling VAR’s performance “shocking” and pointing out how such interventions are damaging the flow of the game.
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The drama didn’t end there. Just before halftime, Chelsea managed to take the lead. Joao Pedro rose highest to meet a cross and nodded the ball past Fulham’s goalkeeper, sending the home fans into celebration. That gave Chelsea momentum going into the break, but VAR would again take center stage early in the second half.
When Trevoh Chalobah’s shot was blocked by the outstretched arm of Ryan Sessegnon inside the area, the referee was once more called to review the footage. What followed was a four-minute delay while VAR also checked for a possible handball by Pedro in the buildup and a foul by Moises Caicedo on Alex Iwobi. Eventually, the penalty was awarded. Enzo Fernández stepped up calmly and doubled Chelsea’s lead, sealing the victory.
Fulham felt hard done by, pointing to several fouls that were ignored in their favor, including what Silva described as a “stamp” on Iwobi. The frustration was visible on the Fulham bench, and the manager admitted it was difficult to accept how the game had been influenced by technology rather than play on the pitch.
On the other side, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca backed the referee’s decisions, stating that both calls were “clear” and that his team had deserved the win. Joao Pedro himself brushed aside the controversy, saying simply that if the referee gives the decision, the players have to accept it.
In the end, Chelsea walked away with three points and climbed to the top of the table, while Fulham suffered their first defeat of the season. Still, the shadow of VAR loomed over the result, leaving many fans and pundits debating whether the system is helping or harming the game.
The talking points may linger, but on the scoreboard, Chelsea’s 2–0 win was all that mattered.
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