Aleksandar Mitrovic has been handed an eight-game ban for grabbing referee Chris Kavanagh during his side’s FA Cup defeat to Manchester United.
The FA confirmed their ruling on Tuesday evening, with Cottagers manager Marco Silva also hit with a two-game touchline ban for his angry reaction to the incident.
Silva reacted angrily after his team-mate Willian was shown a red card for handball on the line. After Kavanagh pointed to the spot Mitrovic also confronted the official, eventually pushing him and earning a red card of his own.
“We claimed the standard punishment which would otherwise apply to Aleksandar Mitrović 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,” an FA statement read.
“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.”
