FA Right To Hand Mitrović 10-Game Ban – But They Must Be Consistent
It’s been a debate across multiple platforms since it happened in the FA Cup quarter-final between Manchester United and Fulham.
Should Aleksander Mitrović receive a 10-game ban for putting his hands on referee Chris Kavanagh?
In a hectic three minutes, late in the game at Old Trafford, Fulham forward Willian was sent off for handling the ball on the goal line, preventing a Man United equaliser.
Fulham manager Marco Silva also saw red seconds later for leaving his technical area while the referee reviewed the incident on the pitch side VAR monitor.
Following his review, Kavanagh changed his decision and showed the Brazilian a red card.
The referee hadn’t seen Willian use his hand to block Jadon Sancho’s goal-bound strike.
His decision prompted an angry reaction from Fulham striker Mitrović who got in the referee’s face and angrily displayed his disagreement.
The Serbian also received a red card when he subsequently shoved Kavanagh.
By pushing the referee, Mitrović broke paragraph 96 of the Football Association’s Disciplinary Regulations, Part D: On-Field Regulations, Section 3.
Which states: “Physical actions (or attempted actions) that are unlikely to cause injury to the Match Official but are nevertheless confrontational, examples include but are not limited to pushing the Match Official or pulling the Match Official (or their clothing or equipment).
“Physical contact or attempted physical contact: Suspension from all football activities for a period of between 112 days and two years. The recommended entry point, prior to considering any mitigating or aggravating factors, is 182 days.”
It wasn’t the actions of the referee that prompted debates online, but the subsequent response from The FA.
A spokesperson stated: “The standard punishment which would otherwise apply to Aleksandar Mitrović for the sending-off offence of violent conduct that he committed towards the match referee is clearly insufficient.”
There have been many who have been in support of a potentially lengthy ban for the Serbian striker.
ITV and TalkSport host Laura Woods said: “There are young players watching that thinking ‘look at that, we’re going to do that, that looks quite cool, we can do whatever we want to the referee.’ “
Talksport cohost and ex-Tottenham player Jamie O’Hara clashed with Woods taking the stance that: “We don’t need to make an example of Mitrović because he lost his rag.
“How many players lose their rag on a football pitch?
“Man United used to surround the referee for fun, Arsenal do it this season.
“I don’t agree with what he’s done, but to talk about banning him for ten games is outrageous.”
It is an action I believe deserves a heavier punishment than the standard three-match ban, despite the subjective views of the shove.
However, if The FA follow through with the ban, they must be more consistent with their punishments.
A similar incident occurred in Liverpool’s 7-0 victory over Manchester United earlier this month, which saw Bruno Fernandes similarly shove linesman Adam Nunn.
The United captain avoided punishment, with The FA citing that referee Andy Madley had seen the incident and deemed it unworthy of reprimand.
The push prompted a comparable response from pundits to what we’ve seen in the aftermath of the Mitrović incident.
Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan compared Fernandes’ actions to Paolo Di Canio’s push on referee Paul Alcock back in 1998
The Italian received an eleven-game ban for putting his hands on the official.
Di Canio’s push set the standards for the relevant sentence against physical altercations with the referee.
Jordan said: “It is a degree of it.
“With that in mind, the captain of arguably the biggest club in English football, not in achievement terms but in terms of reputation and repute, should not go unpunished for this.”
Thankfully these types of incidents are very few and far between in the English topflight.
The only other example came in 2005 when Southampton’s David Prutton pushed referee Adam Wiley, resulting in a 10-game ban.
With this in mind, I think The FA should throw the book at Mitrović.
If his actions go without further punishment, The FA will appear to accept that reactions towards an official are ok.
I was frustrated by The FA’s lack of response towards Bruno Fernandes following his incident.
There is little difference between the two moments, and The FA’s absence of action against Fernandes only adds to the perception that there’s a bias towards the bigger Premier League clubs.
Also, consistently handing out the same punishments will curb the hounding referees get in incidents such as these, as players will be surer of the consequences if they do.
If they don’t take a stance against Mitrović, then I would not be surprised if we saw incidents like this more regularly.
Without stricter punishments, players will be confident they can get away with putting more pressure on referees, and in turn, referees will lose a level of respect from players on the pitch.
Fulham will be without Mitrović for their next three games, but whether it will be longer isn’t clear.
The Serbian issued an apology to The FA yesterday.
He said: “On a personal level, I regret my actions that led to me being sent off.
“I allowed my frustration to get the better of me, and how I reacted was wrong.
“I was trying to get the referee’s attention, but I appreciate that I should not have put my hands on him, and I understand why he showed me a red card, my first in-game sending off for Fulham and my first since the 2015-16 season.
“I have accepted the three-match ban for my red card, I have spoken to Chris Kavanagh to apologise, and I have volunteered to accept a club fine.
“I now want to do what I can to put this incident behind me and get back to helping my team-mates on the pitch as soon as possible.”
The FA are yet to confirm the length of Mitrović’s ban, and time will tell whether they double down.
But I think Mitrović and Fulham will have little defence if they punish the Serbian further.
