Fulham were left with a point, two more on the season and rather less patience with the officials after Matheus Cunha’s 89th-minute equaliser earned Manchester United a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage.
Álvaro Arbeloa believed his side had been denied their first Premier League win of the campaign by a decision made 35 seconds before Cunha struck. Fulham had led late on, only for play to be stopped for a foul on Harry Maguire near the halfway line, a call Arbeloa said should not have been given.
The Fulham manager, formerly José Mourinho’s successor at Real Madrid, argued that referee Peter Bankes had consistently favoured United. “Every foul seemed to go their way,” he said. “Look at the foul against Maguire before their goal. He weighs 100 kilos. The decisions went in their favour.”
Arbeloa raises concern over United decision
Speaking immediately after the match, Arbeloa went further, suggesting the previous weekend’s controversy involving United had affected the handling of the contest.
Premier League officials had acknowledged an error in the goal scored by Erling Haaland as Manchester City beat United in the preceding round. Arbeloa said Fulham had feared the fallout from that incident would make it difficult for United to lose at Craven Cottage.
“After the Manchester City game, I knew they would not let Manchester United lose here,” he said. “We knew what had happened last week. We could see the refereeing through the match, so it was difficult for us. We were unlucky.”
At his later press conference, however, Arbeloa softened his stance. He suggested that his English may have led him to express himself poorly and said he would rather avoid further discussion of referees.
A familiar managerial grievance
The complaints came on a weekend in which Mourinho had also taken issue with officiating after his side lost the derby against Atlético Madrid. Mourinho appeared before the media with a printout containing images of two incidents he believed merited red cards.
For Arbeloa, though, the immediate concern is Fulham’s difficult opening to the league season. The draw followed last week’s goalless result against Liverpool and leaves the London club with two points from five fixtures.
Fulham have scored five goals and conceded eight, sitting second from bottom alongside Tottenham, who are last on the same points total. Cunha’s late intervention ensured another afternoon without the win Fulham thought was finally within reach.
