By Hughie Southon
Fulham’s top scorer Aleksander Mitrovic will be missing from the game against the Hammers on Saturday after being banned for eight matches by an independent commission following his pushing of referee Chris Kavanagh in their FA Cup loss at Manchester United.
Mitrovic has scored 11 PL goals this season and will be a big miss for the Cottagers who have also lost their last three games against Brentford, Arsenal and Bournemouth.
The Serbia striker received a three-match ban for the sending off, three for violent conduct and an additional two for “improper, abusive, insulting and threatening” language. He will also receive a £75,000 fine.
Fulham manager Marco Silva will serve a two-match ban after he was sent off. In addition to an improper conduct charge for allegedly throwing a water bottle in the direction of the assistant referee, Silva was charged with misconduct for comments he made in a press conference following the FA Cup defeat.
Mitrovic’s behaviour will recall memories of Paolo Di Canio’s ban in 1998 when playing for Sheffield Wednesday before joining the Hammers.
Paolo pushed referee Paul Alcock to the ground after being sent off which resulted in an extended ban of eleven matches.[17] and him being fined £10,000.
Later he was snapped up by then Hammers boss Harry Redknapp.