Silva slams referee Cavanagh for showing three red cards

2023-03-20 13:43

Silva slams referee Cavanagh for showing three red cards


Fulham manager Marco Silva was sent off after he and two of his players were sent off within 40 seconds of Sunday's 3-1 FA Cup quarter-final loss to Manchester United , angry at referee Chris Kavanagh.


Silva and two of his players - Willian and Aleksandar Mitrovic - were shown red cards when a melee broke out midway through the second half at Old Trafford.

Fulham led 1-0 and looked on track to reach their first FA Cup semi-final since 2002 , when Willian was shown a red card for handling the ball in the box following a VAR review.

The Cottbus then lost his cool. While Silva said he had received marching orders to leave the coaching area, he was also seen fuming at the referee.

Asked if he could repeat what he said, the Portuguese manager snapped: " I don't remember. He was a very good guy or the decision was fair or something like that. "

Mitrovic was shown a red card for confronting Kavanagh and nudging him with the shoulder.

Silva slams referee Cavanagh for showing three red cards

Players miss Silvar's presence

Silva felt his players really missed his presence late in the game.

" I said to them that I should have been there in the more difficult moments of the game, when we got the red card . My position was in front of them, " Silva said.

" It's a difficult moment for my players and I have to be there to protect them. "

Asked if he apologized to his players, Silva said: " You can use that word.

" I don't remember all the things I said to them. Needless to say, this is the moment when I stand in front of them and protect them. "

A red card is an automatic suspension and Mitrovic's absence will be a big loss for Fulham, as the Serb has scored 12 goals in 25 appearances in all competitions this season .

" I've spoken to Mitro ... about controlling the emotions of the game, " Silva said.