Arbeloa says officials would NOT let Man United lose, FA to act

On Sunday in September, Fulham, known as the Cottagers, drew 1‑1 with Manchester United after Matheus Cunha's late deflected strike earned United a point, prompting a furious Alvaro Arbeloa to claim officials would NOT let United lose and warning of an imminent FA sanction.

Match drama and disputed decisions

The decisive moment came when Harry Maguire was penalised 35 seconds before Cunha's goal, a decision Arbeloa described as unjust. While the English report records the match ending 1‑1, an Italian account states the penalty gave United a 2‑0 lead. Referee Oliver was named as the official who awarded the foul.

FA response and league implications

Arbeloa told reporters, "Every decision was for them and I knew after the game against Man City that they would not let Man United lose. We deserved a little bit more." He added, "We were so, so close. We were a little bit unlucky again. We knew it would be difficult against this big team." The former Real Madrid midfielder also admitted, "My English is not so good, maybe I explain myself so bad and I prefer not to say anything about the referees because you never know." Such accusations of bias can trigger a hefty fine or a touchline ban from the FA, a rule that previously caught former Fulham boss Marco Silva. The governing body is now expected to review Arbeloa's comments.

Premier League clubs push for multi‑year sanctions on Man City

The point lifted Fulham off the foot of the table, while Tottenham Hotspur were condemned to last place for the first time since 2009. Manchester United were managed by Michael Carrick, whose side managed to secure the draw despite the controversy.

The incident was highlighted by NATHAN SALT in the FOOTBALL column. The episode adds to growing scrutiny of refereeing standards in the Premier League and highlights the FA’s willingness to police public criticism of officials. The FA’s decision will be watched closely by clubs and fans alike.