At Craven Cottage, where Fulham’s difficult opening to the season has left little room for further turbulence, Álvaro Arbeloa has been fined £25,000 and formally warned after questioning the conduct of officials following September’s draw with Manchester United.
The Fulham manager accepted an improper-conduct charge arising from remarks made after the 1-1 Premier League match on 20 September. The financial penalty, confirmed on Wednesday, is valued at roughly $33,200.
Arbeloa’s criticism centred on the referee’s decisions during the game. He said he believed every foul had gone Manchester United’s way and argued that the calls had consistently favoured the visitors.
The Spaniard also linked his frustration to United’s controversial defeat against Manchester City the previous weekend, saying he had expected that “they would not allow Manchester United to lose here.”
Commission finds comments questioned officials’ integrity
In its written reasoning, the independent commission concluded that Arbeloa’s words went beyond ordinary criticism of individual decisions. It found that the comments implied repeated bias from the match officials and potentially suggested that there had been prior intent to compensate for an error made in another fixture.
However, the panel did not impose a touchline ban or any other sporting punishment. It noted that this was Arbeloa’s first offence and said there was no basis for a sporting sanction in those circumstances.
Pressure grows before Hull City visit
Arbeloa is in his first campaign at Fulham after leaving Real Madrid, but the Cottagers sit bottom of the Premier League with two points from six rounds. Speculation over possible replacements has begun to circulate in England, with Thomas Frank among the names mentioned.
Fulham return to Craven Cottage for their seventh league fixture, against Hull City, on Saturday 17 October. Kick-off is scheduled for 8:00am Central Mexico time.
