Fulham boss Marco Silva has revealed that the referee told him that Nathaniel Chalobah's awful challenge on Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff was a 'clear' yellow card offence - before VAR intervened.
The official, Darren England, initially decided to only book Chalobah following his dangerous sliding tackle on Longstaff in the fifth minute when the score was goalless at Craven Cottage. This was despite Chalobah's studs showing as he left Longstaff writhing on the turf in agony.
Mike Dean, who was on VAR duty at Stockley Park, soon stepped in from afar and England made his way to the pitchside monitor to review the incident. England duly brandished a red card three minutes later and Newcastle quickly took advantage.
READ MORE: Eddie Howe's ruthless words as half-time pitchside enquiry shows fear Newcastle put into Fulham
Callum Wilson put the visitors in front in the 11th minute and Newcastle went on to win the game 4-1 following goals from Miguel Almiron (two) and Sean Longstaff. Bobby Cordova-Reid did pull one back for Fulham late on, but it was only a mere consolation on an afternoon where the hosts had just one shot on target.
Silva, unsurprisingly, felt the game would have been 'completely different' if Chalobah had not been sent off. Silva acknowledged it was a 'harsh tackle', but the Fulham boss felt there will be similar challenges made in the coming weeks that won't result in players being sent off by VAR.
Silva did nonetheless speak to England on Saturday and the 45-year-old was asked what the referee had said to him.
"It's difficult because they don't want to speak with us," he told Match of the Day. "Everything that we say to them, sometimes, they say too much or something like that.
"It's difficult to speak to them. What he told me that was clear was the yellow card when he saw the moment and, of course, after, Mike Dean on VAR told him that it would probably be something more and he went to the screen."
READ NEXT
Newcastle owners see glimpse of future, £20m game changer and Jack Grealish silenced - 5 things
We want to hear your thoughts ahead of the NUFC takeover anniversary
Fulham vs Newcastle highlights
Newcastle have exciting £80m solution that Eddie Howe will look at when the 'group changes'
Newcastle have already found 'big player' but Eddie Howe makes 'impossible' £20m man admission
