How many games will Mitrovic miss? Fulham star hit with hefty fine after referee shove

During Fulham's FA Cup game against Manchester United at Old Trafford last month, the striker reacted angrily to Kavanagh awarding the hosts a penalty and sending Willian off for handball on the line.

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Fulham were leading 1-0 at the time, but it was an obvious handball, and as Kavanagh walked back from the VAR screen, Mitrovic pushed the referee and screamed in his face - and was duly sent off.

It proved to be a crucial turning point in the game as Man United scored the resulting penalty and went on to win 3-1 to dump the Cottagers out of the competition with Mitrovic earlier giving them the lead.

How many games will Mitrovic miss?

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A red card for anything other than the denial of a goalscoring opportunity or two bookable offences comes with a three-match ban.

But Mitrovic will serve a longer suspension as the Football Association announced last month that the standard punishment for his dismissal against United would be "clearly insufficient".

"The standard punishment which would otherwise apply to Aleksandar Mitrovic for the sending-off offence of violent conduct that he committed towards the match referee is clearly insufficient," the statement read.

"In addition, Aleksandar Mitrovic's behaviour and/or language was allegedly improper and/or abusive and/or insulting and/or threatening following his dismissal."

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And the result is an eight-match ban, one of which he has already served and a total fine of £75,000.

An independent Regulatory Commission decided that Mitrovic's standard three-game ban for violent conduct should be doubled.

The Serbian then admitted a separate charge of using abusive language and a further two-game ban has been dished out.

This means Mitrovic will be out of action until May, with Fulham's game against Southampton on May 13 the earliest he will return.

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However, the FA have announced they will appeal the decision, meaning striker's ban could be reduced or extended.

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By pushing the referee, Mitrovic broke paragraph 96 of the Football Association's Disciplinary Regulations, Part D - On-Field Regulations, Section 3.

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That section 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."

Fulham boss Marco Silva was also found guilty by the Regulatory Commission and has been handed a two-match touchline ban and a fine of £40,000 after being sent off for abusing Kavanagh, while the club have been charged £40,000 for failing to control their players.