Fulham head coach Marco Silva believes Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton should have been shown a “clear” second yellow card during Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final.
Wharton, 21, was booked by referee Darren England after 14 minutes for a foul on Willian but went unpunished later in the first half following a coming together with Rodrigo Muniz in the centre circle, with the scores still level at 0-0.
The pair ran into one another before Wharton appeared to kick out and catch Muniz, who fell to the ground. Footage appeared to show Crystal Palace head coach Oliver Glasner telling Wharton to “be smart” following the incident.
While the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system is in use at this stage of the FA Cup, yellow card challenges do not fall into the remit for a VAR intervention. Had the challenge been deemed a red card offence by VAR Robert Jones, he could have intervened.
“For me it’s clear, a second yellow card,” Silva told ITV Football. “Unfortunately for us we are used to this type of situation. I prefer to look at it as unlucky.
“Of course the VAR cannot overturn the decision but you have may eyes inside the pitch. The linesman from the opposite side, he has all the angles to see it. Even the fourth official. It’s a clear second yellow card. It should have a massive impact on the game.”
Palace went on to beat Fulham 3-0 at Craven Cottage, with Wharton impressing in midfield.
Goals from Eberechi Eze, Ismaila Sarr and Eddie Nketiah ensured Palace’s progression to the semi-finals, and Silva conceded his side did not do enough at either end of the pitch to win the game.
“A great start from us in the first 20 to 25 minutes,” he continued. “We should have scored in that moment.
“I said when we prepared for the game we needed to be ruthless and clinical in these type of games when we have the chances, because they are solid, they are compact. When we are able to create we need to score, we need to punish them. We didn’t and we are not strong enough in both ends today.
“The way we conceded the three goals shows we are not strong enough at each end when we had the chances and defending our box.”
Palace’s victory secured a first FA Cup semi-final spot since the 2021-22 season. Oliver Glasner’s side will discover their last four opponents during Sunday’s draw.
(Henry Nicholls/AFP via Getty Images)