Fulham head coach Álvaro Arbeloa has been fined £25,000 and given a formal warning by the Football Association for comments he made after his side's 1-1 draw with Manchester United in September, in which he suggested officials would not allow United to lose.
United rescued a point at Craven Cottage on September 20, with Matheus Cunha's deflected equaliser arriving in the 89th minute of the Premier League fixture. Speaking after the match, the former Real Madrid and Liverpool defender said: 'I knew after the game against Manchester City that they don't let Manchester United lose here.'
Arbeloa was referring to United's previous league match, when Erling Haaland scored the winner in 10-man City's 1-0 victory at Old Trafford. The strike was initially disallowed for offside before being awarded following a lengthy and contentious VAR review.
In his post-match interview, Arbeloa elaborated on his frustration, singling out the officiating: 'All fouls for them. Every decision was for them. And I knew. I knew after the game against Man City that they would not let Manchester United lose here. We deserved a little bit more. We were so close. So, so close.'
The FA charged the 43-year-old Spaniard with misconduct, alleging that he had acted in an improper manner by making comments in a post-match interview that imply bias and question the integrity of a match official. The FA confirmed that Arbeloa admitted the charge, and the £25,000 fine and warning were imposed on Wednesday.
Arbeloa took charge of Fulham in July and is still searching for his first league win with the London club, who sit bottom of the Premier League standings with two points from six matches. An improbable late fightback by Ipswich Town at Portman Road in Fulham's most recent outing has intensified the pressure on the manager, with reports suggesting he could be living on borrowed time just weeks after his outspoken remarks.
The fine adds to a difficult start for Arbeloa in English management. Fulham supporters have grown increasingly frustrated as the club has failed to convert performances into results, and the FA sanction now compounds the pressure on the Spaniard to turn results around quickly.
The FA has consistently taken a hard line on managers questioning the integrity of officials, and Arbeloa's admission of the charge brings the disciplinary matter to a close. Fulham have not commented beyond acknowledging the outcome. The FA confirmed the sanction on Wednesday, October 14.