VAR official Michael Salisbury dropped for decision to disallow Fulham goal against Chelsea in Premier League clash
Published 31/08/2025 at 18:39 GMT+1
VAR controversy continues to take the headlines after PGMOL confirmed Michael Salisbury's decision to overrule the on-field decision and disallow Josh King's goal at Chelsea was a mistake. Salisbury has been dropped for Liverpool's clash with Arsenal on Sunday after Howard Webb told Fulham that the goal should have stood. The Cottagers went on to lose 2-0 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Highlights: VAR controversy dominates as Chelsea claim derby win over Fulham
Video credit: TNT Sports
VAR official Michael Salisbury has been dropped for Sunday's Premier League clash between Liverpool and Arsenal after PGMOL admitted his decision to rule out Fulham's goal against Chelsea was a mistake.
Josh King's opener at Stamford Bridge was ruled out after Rodrigo Muniz was adjudged to have fouled Trevoh Chalobah in the build-up following a long check.
Muniz inadvertently stood on Chalobah's foot while attempting to turn, and referee Robert Jones announced to the crowd that this was "a careless challenge".
But referees' chief Howard Webb has reportedly told Fulham the decision was a mistake.
The decision to rule out the goal did not reach the threshold for VAR intervention and the goal should have stood, Webb said.
Salisbury has now been replaced by John Brooks for Liverpool's clash with Arsenal.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/08/30/image-e4572fa8-93bc-4688-89ba-90ee6664e9e1-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
Watch the controversial tackle that led to disallowed Fulham goal - 'Is there enough in that?'
Video credit: TNT Sports
Fulham manager Marco Silva was visibly angry on the touchline at Stamford Bridge.
"How you disallow a goal like that is unbelievable," Silva told TNT Sports after his side's 2-0 defeat.
"We have meetings with referees and people in charge, we all want to win. VAR is not here to re-referee the game.
"I would prefer not to say something more because I would be punished. I want to be on the touchline next week to help my team, I don't want to be fined.
"But it has been a difficult start to the season with some decisions."
Chelsea also benefitted from a VAR decision to award a penalty for handball in the second half, but Enzo Maresca dismissed the controversial moments.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/08/30/image-3eb25d22-c39d-4ace-83f1-5da14845955a-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
Commentators baffled as Pedro gets reprieve and Sessegnon punished in Chelsea penalty VAR drama
Video credit: TNT Sports
Asked if his side had been fortunate, the Blues boss told TNT Sports: "I don't think so to be honest, because the foul is a foul, and the penalty is a penalty.
"For me, it is quite clear and if I had some doubt, I would say, but it is quite clear that the foul is a foul and the other one is a handball."
TNT Sports' Joe Cole gave his thoughts on the VAR incident during live coverage of the match.
"First of all, Chelsea are very lucky. I'm happy it's not a goal but for football's sake, it's not a foul. He's got his body, yes there's contact, but it's not a foul," Cole said.
"To sanitise football like that, a Fulham 18-year-old ran away and scored his first goal in the Premier League and they take that off him.
- Joe Cole believes Chelsea wonderkid Estevao will 'excite' fans - 'He gives me Neymar vibes'
- Newcastle United break club record to sign Stuttgart striker Nick Woltemade in deal worth ÂŁ64 million
"It's not a tickling contest, I don't like the nitpicking, he stood on Chalobah's ankle and there was contact and I can understand rules of the game.
"It wasn't a careless challenge, it was just two professional footballers going in for a challenge and there's a little bit of contact.
"I'm happy it's not a goal from Chelsea's perspective, but I don't like it in football when you're chalking off goals for that, it makes it too sanitised for me.
"From Chalobah's perspective, he's got to try and win the ball on the halfway line, once he goes to go ground and feels a bit of contact, he can't affect the game then.
"So his actions are very intelligent by staying down, he knows that VAR will come in and look at it in slow motion, and it looks like a foul.
"If we love football, we can't be stopping football for things like that on the halfway line."
Stream Serie A, the Premier League, Men’s and Women’s FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League and more on TNT Sports and discovery+
Related Topics
Thoughts?