Fulham boss Marco Silva hopeful Aleksandr Mitrovic will avoid long ban for push on referee

Fulham manager Marco Silva said he does not anticipate a lengthy ban for striker Aleksandr Mitrovic after he tried to grab referee Chris Kavanagh during five minutes of madness against Manchester United on Sunday.

Fulham led the FA Cup quarter-final tie at Old Trafford 1-0 through Mitrovic with a little over 20 minutes to go when Willian blocked a goal-bound Jadon Sancho shot on the line with his arm.

Kavanagh initially signalled for a corner but was sent by VAR Neil Swarbrick to the screen, where he dismissed a protesting Silva.

After the inevitable penalty decision – converted by Bruno Fernandes – and a red card for Willian, Fulham’s goalscorer Mitrovic raged at Kavanagh and tried to pull him back by the arm – with only 40 seconds separating the three dismissals.

Paolo Di Canio got an 11-game ban for pushing Paul Alcock to the ground in 1998, but Mitrovic’s grab was far less dramatic.

“I don’t think so,” Silva said of a potential long ban for his captain and top scorer. “I saw the image of course and I already spoke with Mitro. It is a moment for him to control the emotions.

“Of course he pushed the referee but I didn’t see that being so bad as you are saying, so I hope the people who are going to decide, decide with the fairness the moment deserves.”

Fulham had wanted two first-half penalties, both involving Mitrovic, who felt he was shoved by Luke Shaw early on before tangling with Lisandro Martinez soon after.

Fulham's Portuguese head coach Marco Silva, right, is shown a red card by referee Chris Kavanagh. AFP

Asked if he could repeat what he said to Kavanagh in the buildup to his own dismissal, Silva snapped: "I don't remember. That he was a really nice guy, or the decision was fair or something like that."

Marce