Fulham boss Arbeloa accuses officials of favouring Manchester United

Fulham manager Alvaro Arbeloa accused match officials of favouring Manchester United after his team's 1-1 Premier League draw at Craven Cottage on Sunday, September 20, 2026. The result saw Fulham take the lead through a Lisandro Martinez own goal in the 63rd minute before Matheus Cunha's deflected equaliser rescued a point for United in the 89th minute. Arbeloa was particularly incensed by a free-kick awarded to Harry Maguire just 35 seconds before United's late goal. "Every decision was for them," Arbeloa stated. He linked the officiating to the previous weekend's Manchester derby controversy, where Erling Haaland's winning goal for Manchester City was incorrectly awarded. Pro Ref later apologised to United, and VAR assistant Matt Donohue was stood down. "I knew after the game against Manchester City that they would not let Manchester United lose here," Arbeloa said. His comments suggest he believes the officials were influenced by the need to compensate United for the earlier error. The allegations could lead to disciplinary action from the Football Association. Under Rule E3.1, managers are prohibited from implying referee bias or bringing the game into disrepute.