The consequences of Aleksandar Mitrovic's rant in Fulham's loss to Manchester United last Sunday could be historic, as the footballer is facing a historic sanction for his actions aimed at the ref.
Mitrovic was frustrated by referee Chris Kavanagh's decision to grant Manchester United a penalty after a VAR review, and while he voiced his discomfort to the ref, he crossed the line when he decided to insult and then shove the game's officer, earning a red card in the process.
Now, it seems that the Serbian footballer will have to watch the rest of the season away from the pitch,as former FA refs have already demanded a harsh punishment for the striker.
In an interview with The Sun, former EPL referee Mark Halsey has demanded his former employers to protect his colleague, as Mitrovic's actions deserve to be judged to the full extent of the rules.
"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," Halsey stated.
The former ref went even further and asked both teams to be given a warning for their disrespectful behavior against referees and for not being able to keep it together in some instances of the game won by the Red Devils.
"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," Halsey added.
The players may be the main culprits for the chaos in the clash, but Halsey also aimed a dig at Fulham's boss for failing to set an example before things took a turn for the worse.
"In some ways, Silva was to blame for Mitrovic's action - managers have got to set an example," Halsey concluded.
Fulham are eighth in the Premier League season after 27 games. If Mitrovic's sanction is confirmed, the Serbian ace would only be back for the final match of the competition, which could be devastating for Fulham's hopes of finishing among the top six. The Serbian striker has scored eleven EPL goals for the Cottagers this season, and his absence could be devastating for their hopes of success if FA officers confirm this sanction.
