Chelsea fans won't be happy with Premier League referee announcement for Fulham clash

Chelsea return to Premier League action this weekend with the race for Europe set to hot up in the Premier League. Enzo Maresca’s side make the very short trip across west London to take on Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Back-to-back draws against Ipswich Town and Brentford in the top flight have seen Chelsea lose ground in the race for the top four. The Blues have now won just one of their last four league outings and sit in sixth, having at one point been touted as title challengers.

The hosts on Sunday also had half an eye on a European spot recently but are now six points off Aston Villa in seventh. Marco Silva’s side continue to blow hot and cold, having beaten Liverpool earlier this month but then lost 1-0 to AFC Bournemouth last time out.

Premier League confirms referee for Fulham v Chelsea

The Premier League has confirmed which officials will take charge of the meeting between Fulham and Chelsea with Anthony Taylor named as referee. Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn will work as assistants with Sam Barrott as fourth official. Andy Madley will be on VAR with Darren Cann as his assistant.

That news perhaps won’t go down the best with either club, who have both been involved in contentious matches with Taylor in charge recently. When Chelsea faced AFC Bournemouth in September, the referee handed out a record breaking 14 yellow cards as Maresca’s side picked up a 1-0 win at the Vitality Stadium thanks to a late Christopher Nkunku goal.

Chelsea were shown eight yellow cards in that game, with the Cherries picking up six bookings on a busy day for Taylor. That wasn’t even the full story of booking with Maresca also cautioned. At the time, The Daily Mail reported that the two teams were set to be hit with a £25,000 fine for the indiscretions.

Speaking after the game, the Chelsea boss said: “It’s not a problem this amount of yellow cards. It is what it is. I complained about a foul on Wesley Fofana which for me was quite clear but it can happen. Eight yellow cards probably because these sort of games are about duels and fight and this can happen. Sometimes the game demands the way you have to behave.”

Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola was less pleased and said: “I will not talk about the referee. I have been talking and it is not working so now I will try the opposite and see what happens.”

Enzo Maresca and Marco Silva past dealings with Anthony Taylor

Chelsea fans will be hoping for a less stop-start game under Taylor’s watch against Fulham, and to avoid any bookings that could lead to suspensions at the crunch time of the season. News of Taylor’s appointment may have Fulham fans thinking back to January 2024.

Marco Silva was incensed following that match after Chelsea defender Malo Gusto was not sent off in the 38th minute as he side lost 1-0. The full-back put in a hefty challenge on Willian with the score at 0-0 and was shown just a yellow card by Taylor.

Silva was furious with that decision, but did aim his anger more at Michael Salisbury on VAR, rather than Taylor himself. He said: “The mistake from the VAR in my opinion, in our opinion … you understand the conversation I had with the fourth official. It’s a clear red card in that situation.

“It’s difficult for Anthony Taylor to see if it’s red card or not – he decided yellow card and we have to be fair for him because in the moment it’s really quick for him to see that it was such a dangerous tackle from Malo Gusto. “But after that has to come the decision from the VAR to overturn the decision. So far in the Premier League, in 10 moments nine are red cards and this afternoon wasn’t – it was a mistake from the VAR. It would have had a huge impact on the game. The game is going to be completely different.”

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