Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic receives EIGHT-match ban after pushing referee Chris Kavanagh

Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic has been banned for eight matches after he pushed referee Chris Kavanagh in his side’s FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Manchester United.

Mitrovic fired Fulham into a shock second-half lead at Old Trafford last month before Marco Silva’s men suffered a collapse to United.

However, the 28-year-old Serbia international was involved in a heated confrontation with Kavanagh after Willian was sent off for a handball decision.

Mitrovic visibly pushed the match official and was sent marching down the tunnel alongside Willian, with Fulham boss Silva also shown a red card.

The Fulham star later apologised to Kavanagh for his behaviour and accepted a three-match ban, but the FA made a claim of “insufficient punishment” against Mitrovic.

Mitrovic’s ban has now been extended by a further five matches after a regulatory committee handed down its verdict.

According to a statement from Fulham, Mitrovic has already served one of the eight-match suspension and will also be hit with a £75,000 fine.

Silva has also received a touchline ban for two matches and faces a £20,000 fine for the incident and another £20,000 fine for his remarks after the FA Cup tie.

Fulham have received a £40,000 fine after a “failure to prevent” players from surrounding Kavanagh during the chaotic scenes at Old Trafford.

Fulham said in a statement: “Following a hearing in relation to our FA Cup tie with Manchester United last month, an Independent Regulatory Commission has decided that:

• “Aleksandar Mitrovic should be suspended for a total of eight games, one of which he has already served. He should also pay a £75,000 fine;
• “Marco Silva should serve a touchline ban for two games, and pay a £20,000 fine for the incident which saw him sent off;
• “Marco Silva should pay a separate £20,000 fine for his media comments after the match;
• “The club should be fined £40,000 for the failure to prevent its players surrounding the referee.”

Bruno Fernandes and Marcel Sabitzer both scored in the second half to seal a 3-1 comeback win for United and to set up a semi-final tie against Brighton.