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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Kyle Newbould

Aleksandr Mitrovic receives eight-game ban for incident during Manchester United vs Fulham

Aleksandr Mitrovic has been handed an eight-game ban for his part in the Fulham's FA Cup quarter-final chaos vs Manchester United last month.

The Cottagers saw two players plus manager Marco Silva sent off within minutes during their game at Old Trafford. Willian was dismissed for handling Jadon Sancho's shot on the goal line, with Silva also shown a red card for his reaction during the VAR process.

Mitrovic then reacted furiously towards Chris Kavanagh, pushing the referee and pointing in his face in a moment of madness that saw him sent for an early bath against United. The Serbian was initially handed a three-game ban, but his reaction led to calls of a long-term suspension which the FA have duly brandished.

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An FA statement read: "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. 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."

Fulham boss Silva has also been handed a two-game touchline ban, having been in the dugout for his side's defeat at Bournemouth over the weekend.

Speaking last week, Mitrovic apologised for his reaction and had accepted his initial three-game ban that came as standard.

"On a personal level, I regret my actions that led to me being sent off," he said. "I allowed my frustration to get the better of me, and how I reacted was wrong. I was trying to get the referee’s attention, but I appreciate that I should not have put my hands on him and I understand why he showed me a red card, my first in-game sending off for Fulham and my first since the 2015-16 season."

Silva also apologised personally to Kavanagh, insisting he would be okay with the referee officiating future matches: "I regret what happened, and I have spoken to Chris Kavanagh to apologise. He knows that I respect him and the job he has to do. Unfortunately, we did not see eye-to-eye on the day, but I recognise that he is one of the top referees in this country and I know that, when our paths cross again, there will be mutual respect between us."

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