Marco Silva, the Fulham manager, expressed his frustration with the fourth official after an incorrect substitution occurred during his team`s 1-0 loss to Bournemouth.
Due to an unusual administrative mistake, Ryan Sessegnon was unexpectedly removed from the game as part of a triple substitution in the 57th minute.
Bournemouth took the lead 1-0 with a goal in the first minute of the match. To try and equalize, Fulham brought on Adama Traore, Raul Jimenez, and Tom Cairney in the 57th minute, substituting them for Sessegnon, Sander Berge, and Rodrigo Muniz.
However, the substitution process took over five minutes, drawing the attention of referee Michael Oliver who inquired about the delay.
It was later revealed that Fulham had not intended to substitute Sessegnon, but due to the administrative error, they were compelled to proceed with the change.
Silva was visibly upset by the situation and argued with the fourth official, Tim Robinson, from the touchline. It remains unclear which player Silva intended to substitute instead of Sessegnon.
According to Premier League regulations, once a player is substituted, they are not permitted to return to play in the same match.
A commentator noted that the substitution board initially displayed Ryan Sessegnon`s name, confirming the error. The commentator also mentioned that sources from Fulham`s technical area indicated Sessegnon was not supposed to be substituted.
Earlier in the game, Antoine Semenyo scored a quick goal for Bournemouth in the first minute of the match.
Additionally, Evanilson of Bournemouth hit the post in the 17th minute, and Sessegnon missed a significant opportunity to equalize towards the end of the first half.
Despite the substitutions, Fulham could not score, and Bournemouth secured the victory, moving past Fulham in the league standings. Bournemouth`s win marked their first victory in nine games across all competitions, boosting their chances for a spot in the European Conference League next season.
