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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Jake Polden

Aleksandar Mitrovic hit with huge ban as Fulham star finally learns Man Utd red card fate

Aleksandar Mitrovic has been banned for eight matches after being charged with violent and improper conduct following his red card in Fulham's FA Cup quarter-final defeat by Manchester United.

The Whites striker was shown a straight red card by referee Chris Kavanagh after he grabbed the official by the arm while protesting the quick-fire sending-off of Willian and boss Marco Silva at Old Trafford.

Willian was sent off following a VAR check that showed he prevented a goalscoring opportunity with his arm while inside the area. Silva was red-carded for his reaction just moments later and charged with abusive behaviour towards match officials.

The Regulatory Commission claimed the standard punishment for a sending-off offence of violent conduct was "clearly insufficient" and Mitrovic was hit with a three-match ban.

This was on top of the three-match ban the Fulham forward had already received for the red card offence.

Mitrovic admitted that his behaviour and language was improper, abusive, insulting and threatening after he was shown a red card and the Regulatory Commission imposed an additional two-match ban and £75,000 fine.

Mitrovic has already served one of his eight-match suspensions in the defeat by Bournemouth so he has unavailable for Fulham's next seven fixtures, meaning he will miss all but the final two games of the season.

Aleksandar Mitrovic grabbed the referee by the arm (Getty Images)

Serbia forward Mitrovic said his time away during the international break allowed him to reflect on his actions before his ban was confirmed this Tuesday.

Mitrovic said in a statement: "On a personal level, I regret my actions that led to me being sent off. 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.

"I have accepted the three-match ban for my red card, I have spoken to Chris Kavanagh to apologise, and I have volunteered to accept a club fine.

"I now want to do what I can to put this incident behind me and get back to helping my teammates on the pitch as soon as possible."

Whites boss Silva, meanwhile, has been hit with a two-match touchline ban and a £20,000 fine.

The Portuguese coach admitted that he used abusive and insulting words, gestures and behaviour towards the match referee, and insulting words, gestures and behaviour towards the fourth official.

Silva also admitted that comments he made after the game constituted improper conduct in that they imply bias, question the integrity of the match official, and bring the game into disrepute.

However, Silva denied that he threw a water bottle in the direction of the assistant referee. He apologised in a statement ahead of discovering his fate this Tuesday.

"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," said Silva.

"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.

"I am sorry that I was not on the pitch to try to lead the team to what could have been an historic FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, but I am thankful for all the support I have received from Fulham fans over the last few days."

Fulham were leading Man United and in full control of the quarter-final prior to the five minutes of madness that saw them managerless and down to nine men.

Mitrovic had opened the scoring for the away side, who were having all the joy at Old Trafford, but Bruno Fernandes equalised from the penalty spot after Willian's red card.

United quickly made the numerical advantage count, with Marcel Sabitzer bagging a second to put the Red Devils in front just two minutes later.

Fernandes got himself a brace in stoppage time to put the result beyond any doubt, setting up an FA Cup semi-final against Brighton.

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