Carragher & Ferdinand Fume as VAR Denies Fulham Goal vs Chelsea: 'It's a Disgrace' | Premier League Drama
Carragher & Ferdinand Slam 'Disgraceful' VAR Decision

Premier League pundits Jamie Carragher and Rio Ferdinand have launched a scathing attack on VAR officials after Fulham's Josh King saw a goal controversially chalked off in Monday night's clash with Chelsea at Craven Cottage.

The incident, which has been labelled 'embarrassing' and 'a disgrace' by the furious former England defenders, has ignited a fresh debate about the use of technology in the English top flight.

The Controversial Moment

Fulham thought they had pulled a goal back to make it 2-1 after Chelsea's early dominance. A clever move saw the ball fall to striker Josh King, who expertly found the back of the net. Celebrations were abruptly cut short, however, as the offside flag was raised following a lengthy VAR check.

Replays showed King was in an onside position when the initial pass was made. The controversy stemmed from a later phase of play, where Fulham's Bobby Decordova-Reid was adjudged to have been interfering with play from an offside position, despite not touching the ball.

Pundits Unleash Fury on VAR

Analysing the incident for Sky Sports, an incredulous Jamie Carragher did not hold back. "It's embarrassing. It's a disgrace," he declared. "We're laughing at it now because of how bad it is. That is not offside. I don't know what they're doing. It's killing the game."

Rio Ferdinand echoed his colleague's sentiments, highlighting the absurdity of the decision from a former player's perspective. "As a player, you're sitting there thinking, 'What is going on?'. That is never offside in a million years," said the Manchester United legend. "The rules are there to be implemented but with a bit of common sense. That lacks all common sense."

A Growing List of VAR Howlers

This latest controversy adds to a growing catalogue of contentious VAR decisions in the Premier League this season. Fans, players, and pundits alike are increasingly frustrated with the perceived lack of consistency and the overzealous application of the rules, which many feel is sucking the joy and spontaneity out of the game.

The decision left Fulham manager Marco Silva fuming on the touchline and undoubtedly changed the complexion of the London derby. For many watching, it served as another prime example of how the video assistant system, designed to eliminate clear and obvious errors, is instead creating new and complex controversies week after week.