Fulham manager Marco Silva expressed his frustration and anger regarding a controversial goal in their 5-1 defeat by Manchester City, deeming it a “massive error” and a turning point in the game. This sentiment was echoed by Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, who scored a hat-trick.
The disputed goal came just before half-time when Nathan Aké headed the ball into the net, seemingly with Manuel Akanji in an offside position obstructing goalkeeper Bernd Leno. Akanji intentionally allowed the ball to pass between his legs and into the goal.
Silva passionately argued, “Anyone with a basic understanding of football would agree that goal should not have been allowed. It is simply impossible to argue otherwise. It is a clear offside, and it deeply concerns us that it was not disallowed.”
In disbelief, Silva waved his arms at the officials after VAR confirmed the goal, while his frustrated players angrily retreated to the tunnel during halftime.
Haaland, named UEFA Player of the Year, concurred with Silva’s assessment, admitting he would also be furious if the situation were reversed. He stated, “It was offside. I feel bad for them—I would be fuming after this as well. It must be a horrible feeling.”
Fulham captain Tim Ream, who scored for his team, acknowledged that the goal impacted the game’s tempo. He remarked, “Losing a game like that is never desirable. We had a strong first half, but our performance significantly declined in the second half. We lacked the same aggression, and that’s when results like these occur.”
Manchester City’s assistant manager Juanma Lillo believed the goal was valid and even more conclusive than a contentious goal Sheffield United scored against them the previous week. He stated, “This incident is beneficial because two similar situations have arisen. In the Sheffield United case, we believed it was offside, but the explanation we received referred to being in line with the ball. Today, I believe our player was less in line than in the Sheffield United match.”
However, the VAR ruling received overwhelming criticism on social media. Broadcaster and former Tottenham defender Michael Dawson expressed his disagreement, saying, “I completely disagree with the decision. It was clearly offside, and it’s no wonder Marco Silva is angry. Leno took an extra step because he believed Akanji would take an additional touch.”
In summary, Marco Silva and Erling Haaland strongly opposed the controversial goal, emphasizing that it should have been disallowed. Despite Manchester City’s resounding victory, the contentious decision significantly influenced the game’s outcome. The VAR ruling faced extensive backlash on social media, further fueling the debate surrounding the incident.
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