Marco Silva hits out at Chris Kavanagh’s decision to send him off in Fulham’s 3-1 loss to Man Utd

Marco Silva rounded on referee Chris Kavanagh after an extraordinary meltdown saw Fulham shown three red cards in the space of 40 seconds at Old Trafford.

Silva’s side were 20 minutes away from a place in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley, but the tie was turned on its head as Manchester United fought back from a goal down to win 3-1 against nine men playing without a manager.

Fulham boss Silva was first to go for confronting Kavanagh as he went to the pitch-side monitor to review an incident in which Willian handled Jadon Sancho’s shot in the penalty box.

When Kavanagh produced another red card for Willian and pointed to the spot, furious Fulham goal scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic manhandled the referee as the situation threatened to get out of control.

The Serbian was sent off as teammates piled in, some to remonstrate with Kavanagh and others to prevent Mitrovic from doing any further damage. 

Marco Silva has criticised referee Chris Kavanagh following Fulham’s 3-1 loss to Man United

Silva (right) was sent to the stands after he was sent off for clashing with the officials 

Aleksandar Mitrovic and Willian were also sent off during the match as Fulham crashed out of the FA Cup

His was by far the most serious offence and is sure to be investigated by the FA with the threat of a lengthy ban.

However, Silva was still raging afterwards that Kavanagh was allowed to take charge of the match after upsetting Fulham with his decisions in their games against West Ham in the Premier League and Leeds in the FA Cup this season.

‘It’s difficult for us to understand,’ said Silva. ‘Unfortunately for us we have been very unlucky with Chris Kavanagh this season, many moments.

‘Chris was in a game we played away at West Ham where we lost with two clear handballs. We received the apology because of the mistakes. The last game at Leeds in the FA Cup it was him again. And for a game that is the quarter-finals, it’s him again.’

Silva was also unhappy that VAR did not intervene when Fulham appealed for an early penalty for Luke Shaw’s challenge on Mitrovic, and suggested that the officials buckled under the pressure.

‘It is the first moments of the game, it is a clear penalty on Mitro,’ he added. ‘Luke Shaw pushed Mitro. The referee is in a position to see, the VAR in their office for sure. No one checks, no sees, no one wants to see it.

‘It cannot be in a quarter-final and both teams have to have the same conditions.

‘There is pressure to play United away at Old Trafford. The referee sometimes feels the pressure because they are here. It is really difficult to accept the things that are happening this season week by week.

‘Until that moment, until the penalty and the red card, we were clearly the best team on the pitch. For 70 minutes we dominated them, matched them clear until that moment.’

Silva admitted straying out his technical area but denied saying anything untoward to Kavanagh to warrant a red card, and also played down suggestions Mitrovic faces a long ban.

‘I don’t think so,’ he said. ‘I saw the image and I spoke with Mitro. It is a moment for him to control the emotions. He pushed the referee, but I did not see that in so bad, bad way like you are saying to me. But I hope the people who are going to decide (do so) with fairness.

‘In all the moments, we should control the emotions of the game. Of course, we are human beings but we have to understand the business.

‘If I got the red card for being out of my area, I have to accept it because I didn’t say anything to make him give me the red card – even though he did not listen what I said to him.

‘I should not be sent off. It is a situation where I have to be there in the difficult moment for my players to protect them from the decisions.’

Silva claimed that his side had  ‘been very unlucky with Chris Kavanagh this season’

He said that Mitrovic should have been given a penalty in the first half but VAR did not check it

Manchester United came back from going a goal down with Bruno Fernandes scoring twice 

United manager Erik ten Hag agreed that managers players have to control their emotions, but admitted it can be difficult after criticising officials himself recently.

‘You have to but it is not also easy,’ said Ten Hag. ‘I was last week so frustrated when you see so many bad decisions, and then you feel it is against you. But you have clear your mind an keep managing the game. Referees also have to take responsibilities, but you are right, we have to set an example.’

Ten Hag paid tribute to his players for booking another Wembley date three weeks after lifting the Carabao Cup there.

‘Every time this team comes out, they show the personality and the determination needed,’ he added.