Silva: Ref push shouldn't lead to long ban for Mitrovic

Marco Silva does not expect Aleksandar Mitrovic to receive a long ban after the striker tried to grab referee Chris Kavanagh during five minutes of madness which cost Fulham their chance of reaching the FA Cup semi-finals.

Fulham were leading Manchester United 1-0 in the last eight at Old Trafford with a little over 20 minutes to go when Willian blocked a goalbound 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 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.

United punished Fulham's meltdown as Bruno Fernandes scored from the penalty spot two minutes before Marcel Sabitzer's first United goal completed the turnaround, with Fernandes rounding off a 3-1 win in stoppage time.

Fulham's loss of discipline could now hurt their push to reach Europe via the Premier League with suspensions sure to follow, but Silva does not expect anything out of the ordinary for Mitrovic despite the images of him grabbing Kavanagh, a referee with whom Fulham already have gripes this season.

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. "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."

Silva's ability to dole