An independent commission has handed down an eight-match ban to Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic for pushing referee Chris Kavanagh during their FA Cup loss to Manchester United.
The Serbia striker was given a three-match ban for the red card, three more for violent conduct, and two more for “improper, abusive, insulting, and threatening” language.
He will also be fined £75,000 for his actions.
Following his dismissal, Fulham manager Marco Silva will serve a two-match ban.
Silva was charged with misconduct for comments he made in a press conference following the FA Cup defeat, in addition to an improper conduct charge for allegedly throwing a water bottle in the direction of the assistant referee.
Silva issued a statement in which he apologized to Kavanagh and said he “regrets what happened” during the match on March 19, after being charged with abusive behavior toward match officials.
Mitrovic’s suspension has already been served, so he will be available for Fulham’s final three Premier League games, the first of which is against Southampton on May 13.
Following Mitrovic’s straight red card at Old Trafford, the Football Association stated that its standard punishment was “clearly insufficient.”
The 28-year-old denied this, but the independent commission upheld it, and Mitrovic separately admitted the charge that his behavior and language after being sent off were inappropriate.
Following the announcement, the FA stated that it would appeal both sanctions but would wait for the independent commission’s written reasons.
Fulham’s leading scorer Mitrovic had put his team ahead against United early in the second half of the FA Cup tie.
However, he was sent off in the 72nd minute after the hosts were awarded a penalty following a VAR check, which resulted in Willian being sent off for a deliberate handball on the line.
Mitrovic apologized to his teammates and the club’s supporters, saying, “On a personal level, I regret my actions that resulted in my dismissal.”
“I let my frustration get the best of me, and my reaction was incorrect.”
Fulham has also been fined £40,000 for failing to keep their players under control.
The London club is currently tenth in the Premier League and will play West Ham United on Saturday.
Source: BBC
