LONDON – Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic is facing a lengthy ban, after the Football Association (FA) said the standard punishment for his dismissal during the team’s 3-1 FA Cup quarter-final defeat by Manchester United over the weekend would be “clearly insufficient”.

Fulham coach Marco Silva was also charged by the FA on Monday.

In the second half of Sunday’s tie, a confrontation broke out after Fulham’s Willian was sent off for handling the ball in the box following a video assistant referee (VAR) review.

During a chaotic few minutes, Silva angrily addressed the fourth official before being shown a red card.

Serbian forward Mitrovic was also red carded after confronting referee Chris Kavanagh and giving him a shove.

“It’s alleged that Marco Silva used abusive and/or insulting words, and/or gestures and/or behaviour towards the fourth official prior to his dismissal and... after being sent off,” the FA said in a statement.

“It’s further alleged that in throwing a water bottle in the direction of the assistant referee, his behaviour was improper.”

The FA also said that Mitrovic’s behaviour after the sending-off was insulting and threatening.

“The standard punishment which would otherwise apply to Aleksander Mitrovic for the sending-off offence of violent conduct that he committed towards the match referee is clearly insufficient,” it added.

The governing body added that Fulham failed to ensure that their players would behave themselves and has yet to announce the sanctions to be handed down.

A player is typically suspended for three matches after being shown a straight red card for violent conduct.

However, according to former Premier League referee Mark Halsey, Mitrovic should be handed a “10-game ban”.

“In some ways, Silva was to blame for Mitrovic’s action – managers have got to set an example,” he said. “Mitrovic has technically assaulted Kavanagh by shoving his elbow into him and has then gone at the official with a volley of abuse.

“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 sanctioning Mitrovic heavily and I would expect both clubs to be charged with failing to control their players.”

In the aftermath of the incidents, Silva was left furious with Kavanagh’s red-card decisions.

Fulham were leading 1-0 and looked poised to reach the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2002 when Willian was sent off and the Cottagers lost their cool.

Asked if he could repeat what he said to Kavanagh, the Portuguese manager snapped: “I don’t remember. That he was a really nice guy, or the decision was fair or something like that.”

Silva felt his players really missed his presence during the latter stages of the match.

“I said to them that I should be there in the more difficult moment in the game, when we got that red card, in that moment. My position is to be in front of them,” he said.

“It’s a difficult moment for my players and I have to be there to protect them.”

Asked if he had apologised to his players, he added: “You can use this word (sorry).

“I don’t remember all the words that I used with them. Needless to say it is a moment for me to be there on the touchline in front of them to protect them.”

With an expected lengthy sanction, Mitrovic’s absence will be a big loss for Fulham as the Serb has scored 12 goals in 25 games this season in all competitions.

“I already spoke with Mitro... about controlling the emotion of the game,” Silva added. REUTERS