Fulham manager Álvaro Arbeloa has been fined £25,000 ($32,973) by the Football Association after being charged with misconduct over comments he made about the officiating in Fulham's 1-1 draw with Manchester United.
Arbeloa directed his frustration at referee Peter Bankes after the match, which finished level when Matheus Cunha equalized for Manchester United late on. The former Liverpool and Real Madrid defender implied the official had favored Michael Carrick's side. His remarks came shortly after the controversy surrounding Manchester City's win over Manchester United, in which Erling Haaland's goal was controversially allowed to stand.
Speaking after the draw, via the Manchester Evening News, Arbeloa said every decision had gone United's way and suggested officials would not let United lose so soon after the Manchester City game. "We were so close. So, so close. We were a little bit unlucky again. We knew it would be difficult against this big team. Also we knew what happened last week. We have seen what the referees have been doing all the match so it was a difficult game. And we were unlucky," he said.
FA charge and response
The FA charged Arbeloa with misconduct following the fixture, played on Sunday, September 20, stating: "It was alleged that the Fulham head coach acted in an improper manner by making comments in a post-match interview that imply bias and/or question the integrity of a match official." The governing body gave him until Thursday, October 1 to respond, and Arbeloa subsequently admitted the charge.
In a press conference afterward, Arbeloa attempted to play down his comments, saying, "My English is not so good. Maybe I explain myself so bad and I prefer not to say anything about the referees because you never know." He added, "When you say something that you don't have to say, it's better to stay calm, focus on the performance of my team and focus on the next game. I'm not really happy. Like I said, I need to be focused and put my energy in all the things that I have to improve." Despite this, the FA has since taken a negative view of his efforts and handed down the fine.
Pressure mounting at Fulham
Fulham currently sit bottom of the Premier League with just two points from their first six matches. Ipswich Town mounted a stunning fightback at Portman Road last week, scoring twice in the closing stages to secure an improbable turnaround and add further pressure on Arbeloa. Reports indicate the Fulham manager could be living on borrowed time just weeks after his comments about the officiating.
