Aleksandar Mitrovic is facing a lengthy ban for pushing referee Chris Kavanagh with the Football Association expected to decide three matches is “insufficient punishment”.
The Fulham striker was shown a straight red card for pushing Kavanagh with his right elbow/forearm after the referee had sent off team-mate Willian in their heated FA Cup defeat to Manchester United on Sunday.
As Kavanagh backed away, Mitrovic proceeded to follow him, wagging his finger in the referee’s face, in what could be considered a threatening manner, while shouting at him.
The FA will review Kavanagh’s report from the match before deciding if the standard three-game ban for a red card is insufficient.
ABSOLUTE SCENES AT OLD TRAFFORD!!
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Tempers are flaring as Fulham go from 1-0 up to conceding a penalty and going down to 9-men…#ITVFootball | @EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/6vWTYNgRGT
In the FA rulebook, where a player has been dismissed for physical contact with a referee it can lead to a prompt investigation and, if a charge is issued, a suspension of 112 to two years. However, i understands that in Mitrovic’s case it is more likely to be a simpler fast-tracked process when three games is not considered enough.
Mitrovic had to be restrained by Fulham coach Luis Boa Morte, his team-mates on the pitch and Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea before leaving the field and there have been calls for the striker to face a longer ban.
The FA has until 1pm on Tuesday to contact Fulham to make the claim of “clearly insufficient punishment” after reviewing the referee’s report. A regulatory commission would then determine if the standard punishment is not enough and whether the player serves a standard suspension or an extended one.
Mitrovic’s push on Kavanagh has been compared to when Paolo Di Canio shoved referee Paul Alcock to the floor in 1998. In that case, Di Canio pushed Alcock with both hands in the chest after being shown a red card, forcing the referee to fall, somewhat theatrically, to the ground. Di Canio was suspended for 11 games and fined £10,000.
Others have questioned why Bruno Fernandes did not face even a yellow card for appearing to push linesman Adam Nunn during Manchester United’s thrashing by Liverpool two weeks prior. The FA took no further action after the game.
Former Blackburn Rovers striker Chris Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live that Mitrovic should be banned for 10 games and that Fernandes should have faced the same penalty for pushing Nunn as well. “[Mitrovic] saw the red mist. That’s no excuse. You cannot lay your hand on an official,” he said.
There have been growing concerns about the abuse, threats and physical assaults that officials at grassroots level are experiencing, in both adult and children’s football. At that level, the behaviour comes from players and managers as well as spectators, often parents.
“In my opinion, it will impact further down the chain at grassroots level,” Sutton added. “There will be kids watching the game today who think, well if Mitrovic can do it, so can I.”
Fulham manager Marco Silva, who was also sent off in 37 seconds of chaos that cost Fulham the FA Cup tie, said he did not think Mitrovic deserved a lengthy ban.
“I didn’t see in a so, so bad way,” Silva said. “He pushed the referee and Mitro should control his emotions. I saw the image and I will speak with him.
“But I hope the people who are going to decide do so with fairness that the moment deserves.”
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