What started as a routine substitution during Fulham’s clash with Bournemouth quickly spiraled into confusion, miscommunication, and frustration—leaving manager Marco Silva absolutely fuming on the touchline.
A Costly Mix-Up on the Sidelines
Midway through the second half, with Fulham pushing to find a way back into the game, Ryan Sessegnon was substituted in the 57th minute.
But it didn’t take long for everyone—especially Silva—to realize something had gone terribly wrong. Sessegnon wasn’t meant to come off at all.
The intended substitution was actually Sasa Lukic.
Marco Silva’s Protests Fall Flat
As soon as Silva spotted the error, he rushed over to the fourth official, Tim Robinson, in an effort to fix the situation. But by then, the damage was done.
According to Premier League rules, once a player has been substituted, they can’t be brought back onto the field.
No exceptions.
Silva’s pleas were shut down, and the game moved on without Sessegnon.
Who Was Meant to Come Off?
The mix-up happened during a triple substitution that was meant to shake things up for Fulham.
Adama Traore, Raul Jimenez, and Tom Cairney came on, while Sander Berge and Rodrigo Muniz exited the pitch—along with Sessegnon, who wasn’t actually supposed to leave the game.
The confusion seems to have come from a miscommunication between Silva’s assistant coaches and the officials.
“There was a misunderstanding between our staff and the fourth official,” Silva explained afterward.
“When I saw Sessegnon was coming off, I tried to correct it, but they didn’t let us fix it.”
Referee Steps In, But It’s Too Late
The whole ordeal caused a brief delay, with referee Michael Oliver walking over to the technical area to assess the confusion.
But by that point, nothing could be done.
Sessegnon had officially been subbed out, and the rules are strict on that front.
Tensions Boil Over Again After First-Half Tackle
The substitution wasn’t the only thing that had Silva seeing red.
Earlier in the match, Fulham felt Marcos Senesi should’ve been sent off for a rough tackle on Joachim Andersen.
Oliver issued a yellow card, a decision confirmed by VAR official Jarred Gillett.
Not wanting to risk a second booking, Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola quickly took Senesi off and replaced him with Illia Zabarnyi.
“The Officials Were Off Their Game”
Silva didn’t hold back in his post-match comments.
“The fourth official seemed confused the entire game,” he said.
And after everything that went down, it’s hard to argue otherwise.
A Fast Start Seals the Deal for Bournemouth
Bournemouth got off to a flying start, scoring within the first minute thanks to Antoine Semenyo, who found the back of the net just 53 seconds into the match.
That early goal ended up being the only one of the night, earning the Cherries all three points.
What It Means for the Table
The win was a big one for Bournemouth, who leapfrogged Fulham into eighth place in the Premier League standings.
Both teams now sit on 48 points, but Bournemouth’s better goal difference gives them the edge.
That puts them in a stronger position to push for a spot in European competition, while Fulham’s hopes took a hit.
So… What’s Next?
With just a few games left in the season, every point matters.
Fulham will need to regroup quickly and hope this bizarre incident doesn’t cost them more than just one game.
As for Silva? He’ll surely be demanding a bit more clarity and communication from his coaching staff—and the officials—moving forward.