Fulham manager Marco Silva thinks Aleksandar Mitrovic should be spared a lengthy ban after he was shown a straight red card for pushing the referee in Manchester United's 3-1 victory in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup at the weekend.
Although Fulham opened the scoring shortly after the beginning of the second half, the game was blown open after a chaotic few minutes, which saw Willian sent off for handling the ball and strong protests from Mitrovic and Silva.
In extraordinary circumstances, Mitrovic and Silva were shown straight red cards for their protests, Bruno Fernandes subsequently scored the penalty that had been given and, just a few minutes later, United scored again to make the game 2-1.
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Silva, speaking after the game, vented his frustration at those decisions but he admitted his team need to control their emotions.
"We should control the emotions of the game," Silva said. "Of course, we are human, but we have to understand the business and the game. In that moment, I got a red card before the decision came and if I got a red for being out of my area, I have to accept.
"I didn't say anything that should get me a red card. About Mitro, it's the same of course, he should control the emotions of the game. Even if in the first half, he had two moments [penalty appals] which the referee didn't give to him."
Silva also made an appeal to the FA not to give Mitrovic a lengthy ban for pushing the referee, which led to his sending-off.
“I don’t think so [worthy of a long ban]," he added. "I saw the image and I spoke with Mitro, it is a moment for him to control the emotions. He pushed the referee but I hope the people who are going to decide, decide with what the moment deserves.
“Chris [Kavanagh] was in a game we played away at West Ham where we lost with two clear handballs, we received the apology because of the mistakes. The last game at Leeds in the FA Cup it was him again.
"And for a game that is the quarter‑finals it’s him again, it’s difficult to understand. Of course we respect that he’s a top referee in this country, I accept that, but unfortunately for us, with us he’s been really unhappy this season.”
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