{
  "id": 8769586,
  "title": "EPL: Referees helped Man Utd avoid defeat – Fulham manager, Arbeloa",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/epl-referees-helped-man-utd-avoid-defeat-fulham-manager-arbeloa",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-20T21:07:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Post Nigeria",
    "slug": "daily-post-nigeria",
    "url": "https://dailypost.ng/2026/09/20/epl-referees-helped-man-utd-avoid-defeat-fulham-manager-arbeloa/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Fulham's manager, Alvaro Arbeloa, has suggested that the referees were biased towards Manchester United during their recent 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage. Arbeloa stated that the referees aimed to prevent United from suffering another loss because they had recently faced controversy in the Manchester derby. At the start of the match, Manchester United secured a free-kick after a foul on Harry Maguire, which Arbeloa believed was too soft. He accused the referees, with particular reference to referee Michael Oliver, of consistently awarding fouls to United. This, he said, came as a result of an \"error in judgement\" by the officials, much like the situation in the previous Manchester derby where Erling Haaland scored a winning goal. \"All fouls for them,\" Arbeloa told Sky Sports. \"You can see before they scored, the foul against Maguire, he’s a guy who is 100 kilos. Every decision was for them.\" Arbeloa also expressed his belief that the officials did not want Manchester United to lose at this match, stating his team was \"deservedly\" awarded more.",
  "summary": "Fulham head coach, Alvaro Arbeloa, has claimed that the referees did not want Manchester United to lose against them, because of the injustice they faced in the Manchester derby last weekend. United played out a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage on Sunday, after Matheus Cunha scored a deflected 89th-minute equaliser. Arbeloa was left fuming after […] EPL: Referees helped Man Utd avoid defeat – Fulham…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}