Fulham manager Álvaro Arbeloa has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association over remarks he made following his team’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United.
ESPN reports that after the Premier League fixture, Arbeloa asserted officials would “not let Manchester United lose,” which led the FA to claim his comments suggested bias and cast doubt on the integrity of a match official.
Manchester United rescued a point at Craven Cottage on September 20, when Matheus Cunha’s 89th-minute strike took a deflection and ended up in the net.
Arbeloa, who was appointed Fulham manager in the summer, voiced criticism of the officiating in his post-match television interview.
“The referee gave all fouls for them,” Arbeloa said, before referring to the controversial VAR decision from Manchester City’s derby against United.
“I knew after the game against Man City that they [would not] let Manchester United lose here,” he added.
The FA charge claims that Arbeloa “acted in an improper manner” through remarks made in a post-match interview that suggested bias and/or called into question the integrity of a match official.
Arbeloa has been mandated to respond to the charge by Thursday.
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Since taking charge at Fulham, the Spaniard has yet to win a Premier League game, the draw with United following a tough beginning to the season.
Manchester United, in the meantime, have managed just one victory in their first five Premier League fixtures.
Michael Carrick’s team defeated Ipswich Town but fell to Hull City and Manchester City, and they also drew with Everton and Fulham.
The FA has in the past disciplined Fulham managers over post-match remarks about match officials.
Earlier this year, former Fulham boss Marco Silva was punished after comments made following a Premier League game against West Ham United were judged to imply bias and/or question the integrity of a match official.
