Mitrovic slapped with EIGHT-MATCH ban after Man Utd madness in one of biggest Prem suspensions – and it could get worse

FA CHIEFS are demanding Aleksandar Mitrovic gets a LONGER ban despite the Fulham striker being suspended for EIGHT games.

And Wembley officials were also left fuming after Craven Cottage boss Marco Silva was banned for just two matches for his touchline verbal rant at the officials.

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AP

SunSport revealed that Mitrovic faced a ban of up to ten games, effectively finishing his season, after shoving and then abusing ref Chris Kavanagh.

Mitrovic lost his head after Kavanagh dismissed Willian following a VAR handball review in the FA Cup quarter-final defeat at Manchester United.

Silva reacted to that decision by throwing a water bottle at the assistant referee and screaming abuse at the officials to also see red.

Seconds later, Mitrovic shoved Kavanagh, to be sent off as well, before standing in front of the official and showering him with a volley of angry words.

And after a three-man independent disciplinary commission suspended the Serbian striker for eight games, with a fine of £75,000, and gave Silva just a two-match touchline ban, the FA announced it was not accepting the punishment.

In a statement, the FA said: “We note the decision of the Independent Regulatory Commission to sanction Aleksandar Mitrovic and Marco Silva. 

“Our current intention is to appeal both sanctions, however we will await the written reasons before confirming our final position.”

The FA’s instant reaction to the sanctions, with Silva fined £40,000 and Fulham also hit with a £40,000 punishment, signalled Wembley’s determination to demand proper sanctions for incidents against match officials.

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Mitrovic admitted the initial violent conduct charge but fought the FA’s case that the standard three-match penalty was “clearly insufficient” and asked for a personal hearing in front of the three-man independent commission.

Announcing the findings, a Wembley spokesperson said: “The FA claim 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.”

Kavanagh made a full report of the striker’s language.

The FA added: “Mitrovic 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 Mitrovic for eight matches. “One of these has already been served, and therefore the forward will be unavailable for Fulham FC’s next seven matches.”

The ban means Mitrovic will be available for Fulham’s final three matches of the season but will not play until at least the May 13 visit to Southampton – unless the likely FA appeal is successful.

Silva’s ban and £40,000 fine came after he also asked for a personal hearing, which meant he was on the touchline for Saturday’s defeat at Bournemouth.

The FA said: “Marco Silva admitted that he used abusive and insulting words, gestures and behaviour towards the match referee around the 72nd minute.

“He also admitted 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. 

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Marco Silva has also been hit with a two-game touchline ban[/caption]

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David Prutton missed ten games after pushing referee Alan Wiley[/caption]

“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.

Silva’s second £20,000 fine came for his post-match interviews in which he had suggested Kavanagh had a problem with Fulham.

The Portuguese admitted  his comments had been improper and that he had “implied bias, questioned the integrity of the match official, and brought the game into disrepute.”

Fulham’s £40,000 fine, after admitting failing to control their players in the melee, made the total to the club, player and manager £155,000.

The FA will publish the commission’s full written reasons as soon as they are available.

But the initial response was a clear sign that Wembley chiefs feel both Mitrovic and Silva have been let off far too lightly.

The eight-match ban for Mitrovic is similar to the punishments dished out to David Prutton and Paolo Di Canio.

Prutton got ten games in 2005 for pushing Alan Wiley after his red card while Di Canio missed 11 matches for shoving ref Paul Alcock to the ground.

Ex-Aston Villa man Leandro Bacuna got a six-game Championship ban in 2017 for barging assistant referee Mark Russell with his chest.

Luis Suarez got an eight-game ban for racially abusing Patrice Evra and then ten matches for biting Branislav Ivanovic.

The longest bans in Premier League history were the nine-month suspensions for Eric Cantona’s kung-fu kick and Mark Bosnich for taking cocaine.