Fulham boss Marco Silva was left disappointed after their 3-0 defeat at Newcastle.
An early dismissal for Raul Jimenez handed advantage to the hosts.
Silva later said: “It is a disappointing afternoon probably the quiet game Newcastle needed after a midweek Champions League game. It wasn’t our fault.
“All the moments, the referee didn’t give one foul for Fulham Football Club. All the challenges for Newcastle every time they fall it was a free-kick or whatever. I understand – congratulations for Newcastle – these type of grounds, these type of games and situations, you need to have referees who have the ability to handle the pressure. They go always with the home crowd and the pressure.
“This is the Premier League. Premier League should have referees who have the ability to handle the pressure and this afternoon is an example of a referee who does not have the ability and experience to handle the pressure with 50,000 people around. That is clear for me. Every ball, any doubt for us, he didn’t give one. Even the elbow in the first half on Raul [Jimenez]. For me, yellow card is a good decision and come again the VAR.
“Now VAR is always looking for moments to give, I don’t know if they are trying to justify their job. I don’t know what they are trying to do but people with knowledge about the game can see in that moment – he lost the moment to get the ball – clear Raul – and should do it in a different way.
“Overall the performance from the referee, with yellow cards, it was strange really the afternoon from the referee.”
