Woods and O'Hara clash over possible 10-match ban for Mitrovic in fiery debate

The Fulham striker was sent off for shoving referee Chris Kavanagh in a moment of madness during the 2-1 defeat to Manchester United in the FA Cup.

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With the Cottagers 1-0 up in the 71st minute, Mitrovic was raging after the decision to award the Red Devils a penalty and show Willian a red card.

The Serbian's shocking behaviour reduced his team to nine men, while manager Marco Silva was also given his marching orders.

But that might not be the end of the matter. Many believe the standard three-match suspension for a straight red card is not enough for Mitrovic.

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Ex-Premier League referee Keith Hackett argued ten matches would be appropriate, while former Wales forward Dean Saunders urged the FA to 'throw the book' at Mitrovic.

Responding to those claims, ex-Tottenham midfielder O'Hara was left dumbfounded by the outrage surrounding Sunday's incident.

However, host Woods was not about to let his opinion go unchallenged. Read the fiery debate in full below…

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O'Hara: "Is he [Hackett] winding me up? Ten games for pushing a referee? Come on.

"He's lost his rag. This is intense football. It's Old Trafford in the quarter-final of the FA Cup.

"He should get three games.

"Referees in grassroots football are not like Premier League referees, it's completely different.

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"You can't stop an idiot on a grassroots pitch going for the referee because Mitrovic shoved the referee in an FA Cup match."

Woods: "There are youngsters watching that thinking, 'Look at that, we can do whatever we want to the referee'.

"I'm sure your 12-year-old is perfectly angelic, but there are some that aren't.

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"We heard from someone earlier this morning that the kids are covering their mouths, like the Premier League footballers do.

"This is a football pitch. If they see someone doing it, they will think that's alright."

O'Hara: "We don't need to make an example of Mitrovic because he lost his rag.

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"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."

Woods: "When we said ten earlier on, I winced because I thought that's way too much.

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"But look back at history - Paolo Di Canio, 11 games. David Prutton, 10 games for shoving the referee."

O'Hara: "What he did was wrong, we all know that. Don't touch the referee. He's got sent off, he looks a fool, he'll get fined by his club.

"He's got a three game ban, Fulham will lose him for massive matches. We all lose our rag. They are always on the edge.

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"I'm not saying what he did was right. Let's not make an example of him.

"These problems have been coming because of how bad the referees are. This has been building for some time.

"The players have had enough of how bad the officiating is in the Premier League and it's starting to spill over. But the referees need to take a look at themselves."

Woods: "It doesn't mean you can push them! It doesn't matter, there's an official on the pitch, you do what they say.

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"I actually think officials need to use those cards more. Players should be scared to go near them."

O'Hara: "What authority have they got? They go to VAR for everything. There's no point having an official. We're getting to a point where we won't even have officials."

Woods: "Stay on one argument for a second. You're dovetailing into VAR, you're dovetailing into bad officiating.

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"Just for a second, say that the officiating at the weekend was right or wrong, were you in agreement with those red cards?"

O'Hara: "Mitrovic getting sent off was the right decision. I disagree with a ten game ban."

Woods: "Do you think referees are going to get more respect if they start to be tougher with people surrounding them and saying, 'You don't have a second chance, you're off'?"

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O'Hara: "I think referees will get more respect when they start making better decisions."