Fulham: Alvaro Arbeloa sent off by the referee, players also leave the pitch!

12.08.26 FT Club Friendlies

Malaga

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Fulham

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Furious after Malaga's controversial equalizer, Álvaro Arbeloa was shown a red card before Fulham refused to take part in the penalty shootout.

Fulham under Álvaro Arbeloa delivered a surreal scene on Wednesday night during the Costa del Sol friendly tournament against Malaga. The Cottagers were still leading 2-1 when the Spanish club was awarded a penalty in the 91st minute, which was converted to level the match.

The decision sent Arbeloa into a rage. The Spanish coach vehemently protested to the referee and was subsequently sent off. The drama didn’t end there: as the match was supposed to be decided by a penalty shootout, the Fulham players walked off the pitch and headed straight to the dressing room.

Malaga then took the first penalty alone into an empty net and celebrated the win in front of their fans. Fulham reportedly explained their abrupt exit by citing the need to rush to the airport. However, this justification failed to convince the Spanish media, who had plenty to say about the chaotic end to the match.

A mixed spell at Real Madrid

This outburst is a reminder that the coach comes from an intense spell in charge of the Real Madrid first team. Appointed in January 2026 following Xabi Alonso's departure, Arbeloa oversaw 28 matches, recording 18 wins, two draws, and eight defeats.

His team finished second in La Liga, but was knocked out in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey by Albacete and in the Champions League quarter-finals by Bayern Munich. Despite a respectable record, his tenure ended in June, shortly before he joined Fulham.

Read also: UEFA Super Cup: PSG beat Aston Villa and retain their title (2-1)

Mahdi Zakaria LAZRI |

Editor

Football web writer creating digital sports content with a focus on news, analysis and stories that reflect passion, accuracy and objectivity.

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