The FA have confirmed that Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic will serve an eight-match suspension for his conduct and behaviour during last month’s FA Cup defeat at Manchester United. Marco Silva has also been hit with a touchline ban, with both individuals receiving fines.
Referee Chris Kavanagh showed Mitrovic and Silva red cards for their reaction to his dismissal of Willian as Fulham led 1-0 at Old Trafford. Willian had used his hand to block a goal-bound shot, conceding a penalty to spark United’s 3-1 comeback to progress to the semi-finals.
Mitrovic shouted in Kavanagh’s face and also put his hands on him, prompting an immediate sending-off, while Silva verbally abused him and his fourth official during a one-minute meltdown. Both men have now been strongly punished and have been ordered to pay fines along with their suspensions from the pitch and the touchline.
Mitrovic has already served one game of his ban but will now only be available for the final three games of Fulham’s season against Southampton, Crystal Palace and United.
An FA statement read: “Fulham FC, Marco Silva and Aleksandar Mitrovic have been sanctioned by an independent Regulatory Commission following a hearing in relation to their tie against Manchester United in The FA Cup on Sunday 19 March.
“Marco Silva admitted that he used abusive and insulting words, gestures and behaviour towards the match referee around the 72nd minute; that he used abusive and insulting words towards the fourth official before being sent off; and that he used abusive and insulting words, gestures and behaviour towards the fourth official after being dismissed.
“However, he denied that he threw a water bottle in the direction of the assistant referee and that his behaviour in doing so was improper. The Regulatory Commission upheld the outstanding charge against him, and imposed a two-match touchline ban and a £20,000 fine.
“The manager also admitted that comments he made in the post-match press conference constitute improper conduct in that they imply bias, question the integrity of the match official, and bring the game into disrepute. As a result, the Regulatory Commission imposed an additional £20,000 fine.
“We claimed the standard punishment which would otherwise apply to Aleksandar Mitrovic for the sending-off offence of violent conduct that he committed towards the match referee around the 72nd minute was clearly insufficient.
“The forward denied this, but it was upheld by the Regulatory Commission, and a three-match ban was imposed. This is in addition to the three-match ban he had already received for the red card offence.
“The forward separately admitted that his behaviour and language after being sent off was improper, abusive, insulting and threatening, and the Regulatory Commission imposed an additional two-match ban and £75,000 fine.
“In total, the Regulatory Commission has suspended Aleksandar Mitrović for eight matches. One of these has already been served, and therefore the forward will be unavailable for Fulham FC’s next seven matches.
“Finally, the club admitted that it failed to ensure its players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion around the 72nd minute, and the Regulatory Commission imposed a £40,000 fine.
“We await the Regulatory Commission’s written reasons for these decisions, which will be published in due course.”
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