FA charges Fulham's Arbeloa for claiming officials would not let Manchester United lose

The Football Association has charged Fulham manager Alvaro Arbeloa with misconduct after he claimed officials “would not let Manchester United lose” during the sides’ 1-1 Premier League draw at Craven Cottage on 20 September.

Arbeloa made the remarks in a post-match interview, alleging the referee had awarded “all fouls” to the opposition. He also referenced a controversial VAR decision from the Manchester derby the previous weekend, saying: “I knew after the game against Man City that they [would not] let Manchester United lose here.”

The FA alleges the Fulham boss “acted in an improper manner by making comments in a post-match interview that imply bias and/or question the integrity of a match official.” Arbeloa has until Thursday to respond to the charge.

The match itself had appeared to be heading toward a first league victory for Arbeloa, who took charge at Fulham in the summer and is yet to win a Premier League game. Fulham led through a Lisandro Martinez own goal early in the second half before Matheus Cunha’s deflected strike in the 89th minute rescued a point for Michael Carrick’s side.

Carrick’s team came in for sharp criticism after the game, with former United player Gary Neville describing a 15-minute spell as the worst he had seen from the club in his lifetime as a supporter. Neville later clarified his comments, explaining he was specifically referring to United’s lack of movement without the ball: “I’ve never seen a Manchester United team walk, out of possession, as much as that. No alertness, no liveliness, no sort of on your toes. Just walking when Fulham were in possession.”

Neville also questioned Carrick’s reluctance to criticise his players publicly, adding: “Michael’s got to stop defending them. There needs to be a rebalance — those attacking players are going to kill him defensively.”