Aleksandar Mitrovic faces a long-term suspension after losing his head within 37 seconds of Fulham’s game against Old Trafford.
Aleksandar Mitrovic faces a long-term ban for pushing referee Chris Kavanagh as Fulham lost his head after 37 seconds at Old Trafford.
Fulham striker Mitrovic was sacked along with manager Marco Silva and teammate Willian after the visiting team suffered a disastrous defeat and helped Manchester United come from behind in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Fulham took the lead through Mitrovic’s goal and were the better team until the breakaway ended when Willian saved Jadon Sancho’s shot over goal.
Silva batted first, claiming he was given a red for not staying in the technical area, and Kavanagh checked the pitchside monitor after Vaal spotted the breach.
The referee then awarded a penalty and held Willian red-handed for a foul before Mitrovic confronted Willian, yelling at Kavanagh and shoving him as the referee backed away.
Mitrovic was stopped by team-mates manager Luis Boa Morte and United goalkeeper David de Gea before leaving the field, prompting calls for a long-term suspension for the Serbian.
Keith Hackett, former FIFA referee and former general manager of the Professional Game Match Officials Committee, said: ”He put his hands on the referee, which is absolutely unacceptable.
We really need our sport’s governing bodies to take strong and decisive action.
”
Silva admitted he and his players had to learn how to control their emotions, but drew comparisons to Paolo Di Canio’s 11-match suspension for a similar offense in 1998.
had already taken place, but said he did not think Mitrovic’s attack merited further action (below).
Asked whether Mitrovic should receive a longer suspension than the usual three games, Silva said: I looked at the photo and spoke to Mitro.
It’s a moment for him to control his emotions.
He pushed the referee, but I want whoever makes the decision to make the right decision for the moment.
We’ve been very unlucky with Chris Kavanagh this season.
” Silva also said that refusing to award Fulham an early penalty had led to their dissatisfaction, and that the refereeing had affected the identity of both clubs.
suggested that he had received it.
“Obvious, obvious, early in the game, a clear penalty on Mitro, Luke Shaw pushing him clear.
” OK, the pressure of playing against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
“For 70 minutes we were clearly the best team and up until that moment we were able to catch up with them.
” We find it difficult to accept such a decision.
Fulham and Manchester United, sometimes they decide on different things.
” The Portuguese player admitted that the team should have controlled his emotions better, but he was sacked for not staying in the technical zone during control.
claimed to have been done.
“We have to control the emotions of the game.
Of course we are human, but we have to understand the business of the game.
If he gets a red card for going outside, he has to accept it because he didn’t say anything that would have caused him to get a red card.
If you ask me if I should be there, I’ll say yes.
Mitro, even though he had two moments inside the penalty area that the referee didn’t allow, and he was involved in all of them, he doesn’t let his emotions get away quickly.
You have to control it.
” United coach Erik ten Hag didn’t want to get involved Let’s involve the discussion.
But he felt sorry for Silva.
When asked if coaches and players need to control their emotions better, he said: “We have to do that, but it’s not easy either.
”
“
Last week was very frustrating as I saw so many bad decisions and felt like it was working against me, but I have to keep a clear head and keep managing the game.
Silva could do worse than take a long look in the mirror, considering Fulham’s side blew this match away in his astonishing 37 seconds.
Fulham’s self-destruction was as sudden and spectacular as it was shocking, starting on the touchline with the manager, whose own mistrust led to one of the most unusual and ugliest collapses in recent memory.
Ta.
The Football Association should hold Mitrovic accountable for embarrassingly shoving Kavanagh and storming the referee, but Silva will discipline the Serbian striker given his own unpleasant role in Fulham’s collapse.
may be difficult.
There was no excuse for Mitrovic’s actions, but would he have reacted so badly if the manager hadn’t been sent off for losing his head moments before?
Silva will never know, but he is now on international break to reflect on that thought and why Fulham’s chances of reaching the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time in 21 years have exploded.
When Var representative Neil Swarbrick asked Kavanagh to confirm what the apparent handball from Willian was on the goal line after Jadon Sancho’s shot with 20 minutes remaining, There was no controversy.
The only surprise is that Kavanagh didn’t discover it in real time.
What was Silva thinking as he threw his water bottle on the floor in frustration and exited the technical area screaming at Kavanaugh?
I spoke to him afterwards and he told me that he was upset that Fulham were not awarded a penalty in the opening minutes due to Luke Shaw’s challenge on Mitrovic, and that he was upset that Fulham were not awarded a penalty in the opening minutes due to Luke Shaw’s challenge on Mitrovic, and that he had lost 3-1 to Kavanagh.
It was clear that it had a long history.
The team’s defeat against West Ham in 2010 dates back to October.
But that still is no excuse for him to be as furious as he once was, and the consequences of his sacking at Fulham were dire.
Kavanagh had barely pointed to the penalty spot before the referee sent off Willian for harassing Mitrovic and denying him a clear scoring chance.
The striker gave Fulham the lead in the 50th minute with a close-range shot after Issa Diop converted Andreas Pereira’s corner kick, but his heroics were quickly denied.
While it is unacceptable to meddle with anyone involved at any time or in any way, Mitrovic’s aggressive push towards Kavanaugh’s team was nothing short of despicable.
It was a harrowing sight as the Fulham striker, grimacing in anger, punched Kavanagh in the face again and lunged at the referee.
This sparked a huge brawl between both groups of players, which led to Fulham’s first-team manager Luis Boa Morte entering the pitch to try to drag Mitrovic out.
Di Canio was suspended for 11 games for overpowering referee Alcock in Sheffield Wednesday’s game against Arsenal in 1998, but Mitrovic should consider suspending him in this area.
Whatever the complaint about refereeing standards in this country, physical and verbal abuse of referees is unacceptable and must be dealt with swiftly and severely.
Children observe behavior like Mitrovich’s and believe it is acceptable to behave this way.
And while Fulham were the best team for most of the 70 minutes, it was United who looked a bit restless.
The hosts had goalkeeper David de Gea to thank for still being in the game as Fulham pressed the self-destruct button.
The Spaniard made three excellent saves despite being unable to stop Mitrovic’s attack.
Without the suspended Casemiro, United looked like lightweights, with Joao Parinha shining in midfield and Old Trafford veteran Pereira and Harrison Reid competing admirably.
Willian and Bobby de Cordoba-Reid were also a threat on the flanks, ably supported by full-backs Tete and Anthony Robinson.
Indeed, after his impressive departure from United and Anthony’s performance, it was difficult for Willian to prevent Sancho’s shot.
The experienced Brazilian was great, but I couldn’t complain about Bruno Fernandes’ penalty or red card.
Even if the score had been 1-1 and he had one less man, Fulham would have drawn.
But missing nine players and their manager was a different story, and United made the most of it.
Just 89 seconds after Fernandes’ goal, with United in the lead, Shaw crossed for Marcel Sabitzer to score his first goal for the club.
Fernandes then added his second and United’s third in stoppage time.
The international break came at a good time for the team, who were starting to feel exhausted due to their busy schedule.
But a second trip to Wembley in his first year as manager will be a good thing for Erik ten Hag, who has already won the League Cup.
There were a lot of disappointing things about Fulham, Silva and Mitrovic.
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