Marco Silva upset at 'incredible' referee decision as Fulham lose to Aston Villa in Premier League - 'I want to question them'

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Marco Silva reacted to an "incredible" referee decision as Fulham lost to Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday. Raul Jimenez gave the west London club an early lead. However, Villa recorded their first Premier League win of the 2025/2026 campaign after Ollie Watkins, John McGinn and Emi Buendia found the back of the net. Silva felt his side should have had a penalty for a foul on Josh King.

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Marco Silva revealed that he wanted to question referee Andy Madley after Fulham were denied a penalty during their 3-1 defeat against Aston Villa.

Raul Jimenez scored an early goal to give The Cottagers a 1-0 lead, but Silva’s side were denied a spot kick in the 22nd minute when Josh King was deemed to have dived after going one-on-one with Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

Madley showed the 18-year-old a yellow card for simulation, and the hosts battled back to record their first Premier League win of the season thanks to goals from Ollie Watkins, John McGinn, and Emi Buendia.

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King also had a goal controversially disallowed against Chelsea earlier in the season, and Silva demanded an explanation for what he considered to be another injustice during his post-match interview with Sky Sports.

"I have watched the moments now and for me, they are incredible," said Silva.

"I respect them, and they will try and explain, but we cannot understand. Again this afternoon, we don't need anyone to educate Josh King.

"Josh King already has two yellow cards in the Premier League, and they disallowed a goal from him. It is very difficult for me to say that Martinez is not a penalty.

"If a player is taken out inside the box, it is a penalty everywhere in the world. Don't try to educate Josh King because we can do it inside our football club.

"I want to question them [the officials]. I would like them to explain how it was in a normal body position.

"And if it was, then okay, but I want to ask about Ryan Sessegnon against Chelsea, which was explained how that was a penalty.

"It has been very difficult for us, and I started the conversations about what we can control. The other things in six games is too much for Fulham Football Club, and we cannot control that."

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The defeat leaves Fulham in 11th place in the table with two wins, two draws, and two defeats.

They will face high-flying Bournemouth on Friday in their next fixture, while Villa will hope to build on their first three points of the campaign when they go head-to-head with Burnley the following Sunday.

Before then, Unai Emery’s side will travel to Feyenoord in the UEFA Europa League.

The Spaniard was under immense pressure ahead of the clash with the west Londoners, but he believes the victory against Fulham will give his side confidence.

"We are looking forward and trying to get better at everything," Emery told BBC Match of the Day.

"We started poor, but I don't know why. In the first 15 minutes, we conceded one goal, and we weren't playing.

"But it was important how we drew level in the match and started playing to our game plan.

"Then in the second half, we were really pushing with energy, scored two goals, and after we controlled the game.

"Today was very important to try and feel confidence through the result.

"We needed to improve some things, not just tactically, and on Thursday we did that and today as well. We reacted fantastically to conceding the goal. We showed energy, collectively and individually.

"Progressively, we are getting better, and those points will hopefully help us to be more consistent for the next matches."

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