CONFIRMED – Fulham’s Mitrovic and Silva face lengthy bans after being charged by English FA

Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic faces a lengthy ban after the English Football Association punished him and head coach Marco Silva for their roles in a riot during Sunday’s FA Cup match against Manchester United.

The FA said in a statement Monday that the customary punishment for Mitrovic’s dismissal during their 3-1 FA Cup quarter-final defeat at Old Trafford would be “obviously insufficient”.

Coach Silva fiercely addressed the fourth official during a chaotic few minutes before being issued a red card.

Serbian attacker Mitrovic was also issued a red card after approaching and shoving referee Chris Kavanagh with his shoulder.

“The usual punishment that would otherwise apply to Aleksander Mitrovic for the sending off offense of violent behavior that he committed against the match referee is clearly insufficient,” said the FA in a statement.

According to the FA, Mitrovic’s behavior following his dismissal was arrogant and menacing.

“It’s alleged that Marco Silva used abusive and/or insulting words, and/or gestures and/or behaviors towards the fourth official before to his dismissal and … after being sent off.

“It is also stated that his behavior was improper when he threw a water bottle at the assistant referee.”

Fulham failed to ensure that its players would behave themselves, according to the governing body, which has yet to disclose the sanctions that would be imposed.

Silva stated after the game that he hoped Serbian striker Mitrovic would avoid a lengthy suspension, but he now appears to be without his 12-goal top scorer for the majority, if not all, of the Premier League run-in. Fulham is seeking European qualification in ninth place.

Former Sheffield Wednesday striker Paolo Di Canio received an 11-game suspension for knocking Paul Alcock to the ground during a match in 1998, but Mitrovic’s grip on Kavanagh was significantly less violent.