Fulham leave pitch as Malaga take penalty into empty net

Fulham's pre-season friendly against Malaga concluded unexpectedly on Wednesday, with the Spanish team scoring a penalty into an empty net as the visitors left the pitch. Malaga equalised in the final minute of regular time when Calvin Bassey was penalised for a handball, allowing Eneko Jauregi to convert the penalty and make the score 2-2.

Former Real Madrid boss Alvaro Arbeloa was dismissed for apparently arguing with the referee at full-time, but his teammates departed the field nonetheless, believing the match to be over. Malaga, however, anticipated a penalty shootout to determine the winner of the Costa del Sol Trophy and remained on the field ready to decide the result.

With fans eagerly awaiting the shootout, Jauregi placed the ball on the spot and converted it into an empty net, celebrating with his team before the home crowd at Malaga's Estadio La Rosaleda in southern Spain. Fulham confirmed that both sides had agreed prior to the match that there would be no penalty shootout in the event of a draw.

A post-match report on Malaga's website stated that although a shootout was scheduled, Fulham left the pitch, claiming the shootout was not included in their contract. Fulham concluded their pre-season preparations against Stuttgart on Saturday, with their first match of the 2026-27 Premier League season set to kick off against Chelsea at Craven Cottage on Monday, 24 August, at 20:00 BST.