Fulham abandoned a post-match penalty shootout following a 2-2 friendly draw against Malaga on Wednesday, before new manager Alvaro Arbeloa was sent off in chaotic scenes.
The Costa del Sol Trophy, a pre-season tournament hosted by the Spanish club, ended in confusion when Fulham players headed down the tunnel instead of participating in the shootout. Their departure drew boos from the majority of the 17,179 fans in attendance at La Rosaleda.
The Premier League club later released a statement on X explaining that both teams had agreed beforehand not to hold a shootout if the game ended in a draw. According to beIN Sports, Fulham also avoided the penalties because participating could have affected their travel plans.
Empty net penalty
The drama began after Malaga secured a draw in the 90th minute. Eneko Jauregi converted a penalty awarded when Fulham defender Calvin Bassey was penalised for a handball.
While the Malaga squad prepared for the shootout to determine the winner of the trophy, the Fulham players, nicknamed the Cottagers, refused to take part and left the pitch.
In response to the walkout, Eneko picked up the ball, rolled a penalty into an empty net, and celebrated ironically with his team-mates.
Footage of the incident circulated on social media, with the account Ultras Clips sharing a video on August 12, 2026. The account wrote: "Absolute cinema! During a pre-season friendly between Malaga and Fulham that ended in a 2-2 draw, the La Liga club was ready to do a penalty shootout, but Fulham left the field saying a shootout wasn't in the friendly contract. So a Malaga player took one in the empty net."
Arbeloa shown red card
The incident was compounded by the dismissal of Arbeloa. As referee Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias blew the full-time whistle, the unhappy Fulham manager made a beeline for the official and was shown a straight red card.
Spanish sports outlet Marca strongly condemned the English club's behaviour. The publication described the events as a "deplorable act of disrespect and an unprecedented lack of respect in the history of the Malaga friendly".
Marca wrote: "During the break to decide who would take the penalties, Arbeloa clashed with referee Ortiz Arias and was shown a straight red card."
The outlet added: "Amid the ensuing chaos, Fulham decided to leave the field and refuse to participate in the penalty shootout, in one of the most embarrassing incidents in the history of football in Malaga."
Fulham defended their departure in their social media statement. "Thank you for your excellent support in Malaga this evening," the club wrote. "We can confirm that prior to the match, both teams agreed that there would not be a penalty shootout in the event of a draw."
