Exclusive: Fulham’s Marco Silva faces FA action over Adam Wharton v Crystal Palace
Fulham manager Marco Silva can expect to hear from the FA following his comments in the wake of his side’s FA Cup defeat to Crystal Palace, Keith Hackett has said.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that the Portuguese’s comments about Adam Wharton staying on the pitch made an “implication about the decision-making of referees”.
Fulham were beaten 3-0 by Crystal Palace on Saturday (29 March) to end their run in this season’s FA Cup at the quarter final stage.
There was though a significant moment of controversy in the match at a point when the score was still locked at 0-0 that had left Silva far from happy.
Marco Silva hits out over Adam Wharton decision
With 20 minutes on the clock, Crystal Palace midfielder Wharton kicked out at Fulham attacker Rodrigo Muniz, and was lucky not to receive his second yellow card of the game.
Keeping 11 men on the pitch no doubt helped Oliver Glasner‘s side go on to claim such a convincing win, which left Silva furious, not for the first time this season, about the officiating.
Speaking about the decision of referee Darren England and VAR not to send Wharton off, the Fulham boss was quoted by The Daily Mirror as saying:
“For me it is clear, it’s a second yellow card but we are used to these kind of situations. I prefer to say we are unlucky but it has been a long story with us.
| Fulham last five games | Result |
| Wolves (A) | Won 2-1 |
| Man United (A) | Drew 1-1 (Won 4-3 on penalties) |
| Brighton (A) | Lost 2-1 |
| Tottenham (H) | Won 2-0 |
| Crystal Palace (H) | Lost 3-0 |
“Of course VAR cannot overturn this decision but you have many eyes inside the pitch, the linesman has all the angles to see it, the fourth official.
“It is a clear second yellow card, definitely. It would have a massive impact on the game but against us it is always more difficult to see.
“We have been unlucky in these type of situations and let’s hope it will be balanced at the end of the season.”
Hackett though, believes those claims could lead to action being taken against the Fulham manager, even if he has sympathy with him over the decision not to send Wharton off.
‘Fulham boss facing FA action despite understandable frustration’ – Keith Hackett
After being asked by Football Insider if the FA might consider punishing Silva for those comments, Hackett said:
“I think that there’s an implication there about the decision-making by the referees, so I think the FA will look at that.
“I think however, they are likely to do it by sending him a letter warning him as to his future conduct and his comments.
“So I think it will be in that manner, but it’s whoever’s on the end of the line at the FA who decides whether that is an acceptable comment, but for me he’s questioning to some degree, the integrity of the match official.“
Earlier this season, Silva also hit out at referee Darren Bond after Fulham drew with Ipswich, and his frustrations with officials have seemingly not subsiding judging by these latest comments.
The Cottagers can still enjoy a positive end to the season, as one of many clubs currently in the battle for Champions League qualification.