Alvaro Arbeloa Faces FA Action Over Referee Criticism

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Fulham manager Alvaro Arbeloa is under investigation by the FA for publicly accusing referee Peter Bankes of bias after a late free-kick allowed Manchester United to draw 1-1 with Fulham. If found in breach of regulations, Arbeloa could face a warning and a substantial fine, highlighting the FA’s strict stance on protecting referee integrity.

Fulham manager Alvaro Arbeloa is facing potential disciplinary action from the Football Association (FA) following his critical remarks about referee Peter Bankes after Fulham’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United at Craven Cottage on Sunday. Arbeloa expressed strong dissatisfaction with a late free-kick awarded to Manchester United, which led to Matheus Cunha scoring the equalizer in the 89th minute and denying Fulham their first Premier League victory of the season.

Arbeloa suggested that Bankes and his officiating team were biased in favor of Manchester United, citing what he described as a pattern influenced by recent decisions in Premier League matches, including a controversial VAR intervention that awarded a late winning goal to Manchester City despite an offside infringement. He stated, “Every decision was for them and I knew after the game against Man City that they would not let Man Utd lose. We deserved a little bit more.”

The FA has strict regulations prohibiting personnel from making public comments that imply bias, question the integrity of officials, or are personally offensive towards referees. Arbeloa’s remarks, made during his debut season in the Premier League, are under review by the governing body, which could request a written explanation from the Fulham manager.

While a suspension appears unlikely given this would be Arbeloa’s first offense, he may face a warning and a substantial fine, potentially in the five-figure range. The FA has set a deadline of Wednesday to respond to the incident.

This is not the first instance of the FA sanctioning managers for public criticism of officials. Former Fulham manager Marco Silva was handed a one-match touchline ban and fined £90,000 for comments made after a defeat to West Ham. Likewise, Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp received a two-match touchline ban and a £75,000 fine following his remarks about referee Paul Tierney after a match against Tottenham in 2023.

The FA continues to emphasize the importance of respect and professionalism in post-match discussions to uphold the integrity of officiating within the Premier League.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.