The Football Association has fined Fulham manager Álvaro Arbeloa 25,000 pounds sterling and issued him an official warning over post-match comments he made following a draw with Manchester United in the Premier League.
The incident dates back to the September 20 match at Craven Cottage, when Fulham were on the verge of securing their first win before Matheus Cunha scored an 89th-minute equalizer to make it 1-1 for United.
Arbeloa said after the match: “There were many decisions in their favor, and you can see what happened with Harry Maguire’s foul. Every decision went to them.”
The Spanish manager added: “After what happened in the Manchester City game, I knew they wouldn’t let Manchester United lose”—a statement the FA interpreted as casting doubt on the referee’s integrity and implying bias.
Arbeloa admitted to the charge before an independent regulatory commission imposed the fine and warning, while urging him to avoid repeating such remarks in the future.
The punishment does not come at a convenient time for the Spanish coach, as Fulham sit at the bottom of the league table with just two points from six matches, following two draws and four defeats without a single win in the competition so far.
A recent 2-1 defeat to Ipswich Town has further increased the pressure on Arbeloa, after Fulham led until the 88th minute before conceding twice in the dying moments and once again throwing away points that were within their grasp.
According to TEAMtalk, upcoming matches against Hull City at home on October 17 and Coventry City away on October 24 have become decisive for Arbeloa’s future, with reports confirming that defeat in those games could lead to his sacking. Consequently, the FA fine represents an added headache, while results on the pitch will determine the manager’s ultimate fate.
