Aleksandar Mitrovic should get a TEN game ban for pushing Chris Kavanagh to defeat at Man United, says former Premier League referee Mark Halsey… as he urges the FA to take better care of referees.
- Mitrovic received an instant red card for shoving the referee on Sunday
- He was reacting to the red cards shown to Willian and coach Marco Silva.
- A three game ban will be served but could be longer if decided by the FA
Aleksandar Mitrovic should receive a ten-game suspension for shoving referee Chris Kavanagh, according to Mark Halsey.
Mitrovic was shown an instant red card after he made physical contact with the referee during Fulham’s FA Cup loss to Manchester United on Sunday.
The outburst of aggression was sparked by Kavanagh showing Willian a red card for blocking a shot from Jadon Sancho with his hand, and manager Marco Silva also saw red.
Silva admitted after the match that Mitrovic needs to control his emotions better.
The striker will face a three-game ban for the red, but former Premier League referee Halsey wrote in his column to Sun that the ban should be much longer.
Aleksandar Mitrovic was red carded for shoving Chris Kavanagh on Sunday
Mitrovic pushed the referee after he sent off Willian and Fulham manager Marco Silva.
Former referee Mark Halsey urged the FA to extend the striker’s ban
“Silva was somehow to blame for Mitrovic’s action,” Halsey wrote. ‘Managers have to set an example.
“Mitrovic technically assaulted Kavanagh by pushing him with his elbow and then addressed the official with a barrage of insults.
“The FA have a duty of care to referees and we cannot have this at any level of football.
“They have to set an example by punishing Mitrovic severely and I hope that both clubs are accused of not controlling their players.”
“Mitrovic should receive a 10-match ban for his part in the madness.”
Mitrovic lost his cool and turned aggressive towards Kavanagh in the second half of the game.
Members of the Fulham coaching staff had to escort the striker from the Old Trafford pitch
It is unclear if the FA will hand out a further ban, but Mitrovic will now not play for Fulham for over a month with the international break now underway.
It’s not the first time a player has laid his hand on a referee this season, with Bruno Fernandes appearing to push a linesman against Liverpool, though the Manchester United man went unpunished.
Referees have tried to toughen disciplinary punishments in recent weeks and more players have been booked for confronting referees.
It looks like the pattern will continue and to ban Mitrovic any longer would be a statement of intent from the governing body.