A long suspension threatens Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic. The Serb received a red card in the quarter-final of the FA Cup against Manchester United on Sunday for insulting and shoving the referee. A direct red card normally carries a three-game ban, but the FA has already said that the standard penalty is “clearly insufficient”.
Not only Mitrovic had to leave the field after aggressively protesting to referee Chris Kavanagh, midfielder Willian and Fulham coach Marco Silva were also shown the red card for misconduct. For example, Silva threw a water bottle in the direction of the assistant referee.
The FA has charged all three with violent conduct, insulting and name-calling, but Mitrovic most overstepped the mark by grabbing the referee’s arm and shoving him away. Former Sheffield Wednesday player Paolo di Canio was suspended 11 games in 1998 for shoving the referee.
Source: ANP