FA charges Mitrovic with violent conduct
Published
The FA announced charges of improper and violent conduct against Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic on Monday, as well as charges to Fulham manager Marco Silva and the Cottagers as a team for failing to "ensure its players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion."
The announcement comes on the heels of Fulham's 3-1 quarterfinals exit on Sunday against Manchester United in which Mitrovic, Silva and Willian were all sent off.
In the 70th minute with Fulham up 1-0, Willian blocked a Jadon Sancho shot that appeared to be headed into the goal with his hand and was shown a red card after referee Chris Kavanagh consulted with a pitchside monitor after a call down from the VAR official. As Kavanagh walked over to the monitor, Silva walked across the touchline to yell something at the linesman and was shown a red card. Then Mitrovic shoved Kavanagh as he angrily remonstrated with him and was also shown a straight red.
Bruno Fernandes converted the ensuing penalty to tie the game before Marcel Sabitzer scored his first United goal minutes later to take the lead. Fernandes would add a third in the closing moments to round out the victory for the Red Devils.
In their statement, their FA asserts that the standard three-game ban for Mitrovic's red card would be "insufficient."
"The FA has claimed that the standard punishment which would otherwise apply to Aleksandar Mitrovic for the sending off offence of violent conduct that he committed towards the match referee is clearly insufficient," the statement read. "In addition, Aleksandar Mitrovic's behaviour and/or language was allegedly improper and/or abusive and/or insulting and/or threatening following his dismissal. It's also alleged that Fulham failed to ensure its players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion."
At minimum, the Serbia forward will miss Premier League matches with Bournemouth, West Ham and Everton.
The 28-year-old Mitrovic is in his fifth season with the club. After a record 43 goals in the Championship last season, he has 11 goals in 21 league matches this season. He scored Fulham's lone goal in Sunday's loss.