Published : 01 Sep 2025, 02:28 AM
Updated : 21 Aug 2026, 01:44 PM
Video assistant referee Michael Salisbury has been stood down from Sunday's Premier League clash between Liverpool and Arsenal following a controversial VAR call that wrongly disallowed Fulham's goal against Chelsea.
Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) admitted the error after Josh King's 22nd-minute strike was chalked off for a perceived foul by Rodrigo Muniz on Trevoh Chalobah, BBC Sport reports.
The incident occurred near the halfway line, where Muniz was judged to have stepped on the defender's foot during a turn.
VAR official Salisbury prompted a lengthy review, leading referee Robert Jones to overturn the goal, as Chelsea went on to secure a 2-0 victory.
Referees' chief Howard Webb informed Fulham that the decision did not meet VAR's high intervention threshold, calling it a subjective judgment that should have stayed with the on-field referee.
Consequently, PGMOL appointed John Brooks in Salisbury's place for the Anfield fixture.
"How you disallow a goal like that is unbelievable,” Silva was quoted as saying by BBC Sport.
"I would prefer not to say something more because I would be punished. I want to be on the touchline next week to help my team, I don't want to be fined.
"But it has been a difficult start to the season with some decisions."
This marks the second consecutive home game where Chelsea benefited from VAR, following Eberechi Eze's disallowed free-kick against Crystal Palace due to Marc Guehi's interference with the wall.
