Man Utd 3-2 Fulham: VAR found different foul because referee John Brooks' decision was 'so bad', claims Marco Silva

Marco Silva claims VAR overturned Manchester United's penalty in their 3-2 victory over Fulham for a different foul because the original decision by referee John Brooks was "so bad".

Brooks awarded United a first-half penalty at Old Trafford after Matheus Cunha went down in the area under a sliding tackle from Jorge Cuenca, but replays showed the Fulham centre-back had won the ball.

VAR James Bell overturned the decision and awarded a free-kick instead for a shirt pull on Cunha by Cuenca, with Casemiro heading in the opener from Bruno Fernandes' cross at the resulting set-piece.

The Premier League Match Centre said Cuenca's holding offence had ended before entering the box, which is why the decision was overturned, but Silva says he was told Brooks awarded the penalty for the tackle.

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"The communication I had on the touchline was that the penalty was given for the tackle," Silva told Sky Sports.

Silva, who was booked for his protests against the decision, added: "The game started with a horrendous, terrible decision from John Brooks with the penalty he gave. A big, big mistake.

"It was the first time we have seen in the Premier League that the referee gave a penalty from a tackle, and the VAR came back with a free-kick [for a different foul].

"Because the decision was so bad, they found a different foul, like the pull.

"I know why the penalty was given. The VAR went in a completely different direction to find something and be able to give a free-kick."

Sky Sports has contacted the PGMO for comment.

'Small margins' go against Fulham

Fulham also had a second-half goal ruled out for offside on Samuel Chukwueze after a nearly four-minute VAR check.

Silva added: "The main thing from VAR is to correct things and make it right. Definitely not to over-referee the game or go in a different direction. They are there to help the referees make good decisions.

"The offside goal is by a [small] margin. It happened with us already this season, where goals were disallowed by [small] margins. The idea of automated offside is to be quicker than it was, but sometimes it's not easy. We have to accept it. We cannot control it.

"The first one is much more difficult to accept because of the feedback we got. All of the people in the stadium felt the penalty was given because of the tackle."

(c) Sky Sports 2026: Man Utd 3-2 Fulham: VAR found different foul because referee John Brooks' decision was 'so bad', claims Marco Silva