'Silva's going to combust' - Contentious VAR call gives Chelsea contentious penalty against Fulham
Updated 30/08/2025 at 14:29 GMT+1
Chelsea's Premier League clash with Fulham was full of VAR controversy, with the hosts being awarded a penalty for a handball on Ryan Sessegnon, despite Joao Pedro committing a handball in the build-up. It left Marco Silva and Fulham supporters understandably irate after another moment of VAR and referee decision-making affected the game on the pitch.
Fulham fans fume and ‘Silva going to combust’ as another VAR review goes Chelsea’s way
Video credit: TNT Sports
Yet another moment of referee and VAR decision-making affected Chelsea vs Fulham as Chelsea were awarded a controversial penalty for a handball.
The game was increasingly dominated by decisions, and for Marco Silva's Fulham side it was at least the third moment of controversy on the day.
Trevoh Chalobah's cross into the Fulham box hit Ryan Sessegnon's arm, and Rob Jones went to the screen to check for a penalty for handball.
Controversy ensued as the VAR check showed that the ball also hit Joao Pedro's hand in the build-up to the second handball, only for Pedro's to be seen as fine and Sessegnon's given as a penalty.
Sessegnon was deemed to be in an unnatural position, and Jones gave his explanation:
"After review, Fulham 30 makes his body unnaturally bigger by blocking a cross, with his arms extended away from his body. Therefore my final decision is penalty kick."
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After irate reactions to Josh King's goal being disallowed and Pedro's goal late, late in the first-half, Fulham boss Silva could only laugh in frustration.
Commentating on the game, TNT Sports presenter Darren Fletcher said:
"So he clearly sees that the ball striking the hand of Joao Pedro is, I don't know, not intended? But he's given the penalty for the arms being outstretched by Ryan Sessgnon."
After a lengthy VAR review, a penalty was given despite Pedro's handball in the lead-up to Chalobah's cross, prompting Fulham fans to fume and express their anger in the stands.
Fletcher continued: "I must say in the current state of affairs I'm not surprised he's given a penalty for the one on Sessegnon, it's just the initial bit and whether he should have given a handball on Joao Pedro.
"It's a day for the officials; a goal ruled out; a goal after time; and now we've got this penalty."
Lucy Ward added: "Joao Pedro's arm was out away from his body, it was kicked by Tete, so they've obviously said that was not a handball, but Sessegnon's was. Marco Silva's gonna combust.
"I think Marco Silva will think it's not your day in terms of decisions. Fernandez doesn't care, Chelsea fans don't care, harsh reality."
Fulham were hugely unlucky to see their opening goal disallowed after 18-year-old King scored a stunning solo effort for his first Premier League goal.
The goal was disallowed after a review deemed that Rodrigo Muniz stepped on Trevoh Chalobah's foot in the build-up to the goal, and it was only the beginning of Silva's bad day at the Bridge.
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