Fulham manager Alvaro Arbeloa expressed frustration over refereeing decisions following the 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Craven Cottage on Sunday. Arbeloa suggested that Manchester United received preferential treatment, possibly influenced by the recent VAR controversy surrounding Erling Haaland’s controversial winning goal in the Manchester derby.

The match saw Fulham take the lead in the 63rd minute when Lisandro Martinez inadvertently scored an own goal. However, Manchester United equalized late in the game, with Matheus Cunha’s shot deflecting past Bernd Leno in the 89th minute.

Both teams had opportunities to score, but the game was marked by a lack of intensity, and no major controversial decisions were made by referee Peter Bankes or the VAR team.

Despite this, Arbeloa voiced his concerns about officiating, particularly a free-kick awarded to Harry Maguire just 35 seconds before the equalizer. He stated:

We were so close. So, so close. We were a little bit unlucky again. Every decision was for them, and I knew after the game against Man City that they [would not] let Manchester United lose here.

Arbeloa pointed to the previous week’s incident in the Manchester derby, where an incorrect VAR decision led to an apology from Pro Ref, resulting in VAR assistant Matt Donohue being stood down for the weekend's matches. This context heightened Arbeloa's frustrations following the draw.