'Oh dear, oh dear!' - PGMOL insider blasts Rob Jones and VAR for 'ruining the game' in Chelsea vs Fulham controversy
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Credit: TNT Sports
Ben Palmer
Sat 30 August 2025 14:50, UK
Keith Hackett slammed the decision to disallow Josh King’s goal for Fulham against Chelsea.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that referee Rob Jones should have visited the VAR monitor before telling Michael Salisbury, the VAR operator, to “get lost”.
Fulham were unfortunate to see Rodrigo Muniz‘s own goal against Man United be given in their previous match.
The Brazilian striker was shoved in the back by Leny Yoro, but neither VAR or referee Chris Kavanagh decided to intervene.
And following a tight first-half, Muniz seemed to have earned retribution by setting up young star Josh King to score his first senior goal for Fulham.
That was until VAR intervened in the decision, leaving Marco Silva and the Cottagers fuming at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, 30 August.
Credit: Imago
This article contains exclusive comments from ex-PGMOL chief, FIFA official and former professional referee Keith Hackett.
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With 21 minutes gone and the scores level, Muniz spun away from defender Trevoh Chalobah and slid a pass through the Chelsea backline.
Muniz had been linked with a Fulham exit this summer, but earned a starting place following a late equaliser against Brighton on the opening day of the season.
King raced onto the ball before turning inside and firing home at the near post, leaving Tosin Adarabioyo and Robert Sanchez aghast.
The 18-year-old was joined by his teammates in wild celebrations, with Stamford Bridge stunned into silence.
However, VAR noticed that in the build-up, Muniz had trodden on Chalobah’s foot as he spun away.
Jones went to the monitor to review the incident, and despite a lack of malice or intention, disallowed the goal calling it a “careless challenge”, much to the dismay of Silva, who spent the next few minutes giving the fourth official an earful.
Chelsea would then find an opener of their own through Joao Pedro, a summer signing from Brighton, in the 10th minute of added time in the first half, after Jones had added on eight minutes thanks to various stoppages.
Speaking to Football Insider exclusively, ex-PGMOL chief Hackett was dismayed that Fulham’s goal had been chalked off.
He said: “Oh dear oh dear!
“This is not a foul, it is not a careless challenge, and the Fulham goal should have stood.
“Rob Jones did not require VAR to intervene.
Jones should have visited the screen and told Salisbury to get lost.“
Having reviewed the clip further, Hackett added: “Another piece of poor officiating.
“They’ve had a good goal chalked off.
The challenge isn’t careless, it’s not a foul, it’s an accident; these things happen in football.