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Fulham star earned eight-game ban for shocking incident against Manchester United
English football has rarely seen as bonkers a 90 seconds as when Manchester United faced Fulham in the FA Cup in 2023. The pair meet this weekend in the Premier League, but even three years later the Cottagers might still be simmering from a trio of red cards in a matter of seconds. Fulham’s 2023 meltdown will remain part of the fixture’s folkloreGetty Fulham have never won a major honour in their storied 146 year history, and their desperation to finally get the job done was never clearer than one fateful night at Old Trafford. The west London side had only just returned to the top flight, but were on a high, flying under Marco Silva with top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic one of the most feared marksmen in England. Sensing an opportunity to go far in the cup against Erik ten Hag’s beatable Red Devils, it was unsurprising that both the manager and striker were key figures yet again. Fulham controlled the opening 45 minutes, but the game was scoreless, yet they didn’t let off in the second half. Ahead in shots (9-4) and possession (54%-46%), the away side finally went 1-0 up in the 50th minute through – you guessed it – Mitrovic. Latching onto a loose ball from a corner, the Serbian smacked the ball in as emphatically as Fulham had performed on the night, and Silva decided there was no time to rest on their laurels. Far from fearing one of the world’s biggest sports teams, the Cottagers continued to attack, racking up the shots and keeping the ball, with Mitrovic twice going close with headers, one drawing an incredible save from David de Gea. It looked like United had little chance of turning the tide, but then they did, with thanks to a meltdown of epic proportions. Countering through Antony, the ball was played to Jadon Sancho, who rounded Bernd Leno in goal and took a touch before firing at goal which was being charged upon by a number of players. The man who got there to stop the shot, Willian, instantly claimed the ball hit his chest, but replays showed a slam-dunk handball and red card. Fulham were flying 1-0 up thanks to MitrovicGetty De Gea kept the home side in the game with a glorious saveGetty Things then went very wrong with a Willian handball on the goallineGetty Yet as it turned out, the Brazilian’s claims were so good they must have convinced his teammates and manager who couldn’t believe the call. The Fulham meltdown begins Before the match director even had time to switch cameras to the dugout, Silva was being shown a red card by Chris Kavanagh, and that same card didn’t return to his pocket as it was then gestured at Willian. Kavanagh finally put it away, but only for a moment, as a furious Mitrovic was following him, shoved him, wagged his finger and went chest-to-chest. Straight back out came the red, and Fulham’s 90 second meltdown was over. Bruno Fernandes then slotted in from the spot, and the tide had clearly changed, with the nine-man managerless Fulham conceding two more through Marcel Sabitzer and another from Fernandes to end another season trophyless. Reacting straight after the full-time whistle, United legend Roy Keane stressed Fulham had been the better side up until their meltdown, adding: “A mad 90 seconds and it cost them the game. Mitrovic started with an elbow Then got up in the official’s face for a clear red cardGetty “I’ve no sympathy for Fulham. They won’t get any plaudits from me. They had an opportunity and they blew it.” It was later alleged that Silva had thrown a bottle in the aftermath, and the Portuguese was quick to apologise. Silva and Mitrovic apologise “I regret what happened, and I have spoken to Chris Kavanagh to apologise,” he said. “He knows that I respect him and the job he has to do. “Unfortunately, we did not see eye-to-eye on the day, but I recognise that he is one of the top referees in this country and I know that when our paths cross again, there will be mutual respect between us. “I am sorry that I was not on the pitch to try to lead the team to what could have been an historic FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, but I am thankful for all the support I have received from Fulham fans over the last few days.” Mitrovic took slightly longer to simmer down, before releasing a statement of his own that read: “On a personal level, I regret my actions that led to me being sent off. I allowed my frustration to get the better of me, and how I reacted was wrong. Silva was off, then Willian, and then Mitrovic topped them bothGetty “I was trying to get the referee’s attention, but I appreciate that I should not have put my hands on him and I understand why he showed me a red card, my first in-game sending off for Fulham and my first since the 2015-16 season. “I have accepted the three-match ban for my red card, I have spoken to Chris Kavanagh to apologise, and I have volunteered to accept a club fine. “I now want to do what I can to put this incident behind me an
English football has rarely seen as bonkers a 90 seconds as when Manchester United faced Fulham in the FA Cup in 2023.
The pair meet this weekend in the Premier League, but even three years later the Cottagers might still be simmering from a trio of red cards in a matter of seconds.
Fulham have never won a major honour in their storied 146 year history, and their desperation to finally get the job done was never clearer than one fateful night at Old Trafford.
The west London side had only just returned to the top flight, but were on a high, flying under Marco Silva with top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic one of the most feared marksmen in England.
Sensing an opportunity to go far in the cup against Erik ten Hag’s beatable Red Devils, it was unsurprising that both the manager and striker were key figures yet again.
Fulham controlled the opening 45 minutes, but the game was scoreless, yet they didn’t let off in the second half.
Ahead in shots (9-4) and possession (54%-46%), the away side finally went 1-0 up in the 50th minute through – you guessed it – Mitrovic.
Latching onto a loose ball from a corner, the Serbian smacked the ball in as emphatically as Fulham had performed on the night, and Silva decided there was no time to rest on their laurels.
Far from fearing one of the world’s biggest sports teams, the Cottagers continued to attack, racking up the shots and keeping the ball, with Mitrovic twice going close with headers, one drawing an incredible save from David de Gea.
It looked like United had little chance of turning the tide, but then they did, with thanks to a meltdown of epic proportions.
Countering through Antony, the ball was played to Jadon Sancho, who rounded Bernd Leno in goal and took a touch before firing at goal which was being charged upon by a number of players.
The man who got there to stop the shot, Willian, instantly claimed the ball hit his chest, but replays showed a slam-dunk handball and red card.
Yet as it turned out, the Brazilian’s claims were so good they must have convinced his teammates and manager who couldn’t believe the call.
The Fulham meltdown begins
Before the match director even had time to switch cameras to the dugout, Silva was being shown a red card by Chris Kavanagh, and that same card didn’t return to his pocket as it was then gestured at Willian.
Kavanagh finally put it away, but only for a moment, as a furious Mitrovic was following him, shoved him, wagged his finger and went chest-to-chest.
Straight back out came the red, and Fulham’s 90 second meltdown was over.
Bruno Fernandes then slotted in from the spot, and the tide had clearly changed, with the nine-man managerless Fulham conceding two more through Marcel Sabitzer and another from Fernandes to end another season trophyless.
Reacting straight after the full-time whistle, United legend Roy Keane stressed Fulham had been the better side up until their meltdown, adding: “A mad 90 seconds and it cost them the game.
“I’ve no sympathy for Fulham. They won’t get any plaudits from me. They had an opportunity and they blew it.”
It was later alleged that Silva had thrown a bottle in the aftermath, and the Portuguese was quick to apologise.
Silva and Mitrovic apologise
“I regret what happened, and I have spoken to Chris Kavanagh to apologise,” he said. “He knows that I respect him and the job he has to do.
“Unfortunately, we did not see eye-to-eye on the day, but I recognise that he is one of the top referees in this country and I know that when our paths cross again, there will be mutual respect between us.
“I am sorry that I was not on the pitch to try to lead the team to what could have been an historic FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, but I am thankful for all the support I have received from Fulham fans over the last few days.”
Mitrovic took slightly longer to simmer down, before releasing a statement of his own that read: “On a personal level, I regret my actions that led to me being sent off. I allowed my frustration to get the better of me, and how I reacted was wrong.
“I was trying to get the referee’s attention, but I appreciate that I should not have put my hands on him and I understand why he showed me a red card, my first in-game sending off for Fulham and my first since the 2015-16 season.
“I have accepted the three-match ban for my red card, I have spoken to Chris Kavanagh to apologise, and I have volunteered to accept a club fine.
“I now want to do what I can to put this incident behind me and get back to helping my team-mates on the pitch as soon as possible.”
Mitrovic gets historic ban
However, for Mitrovic it wasn’t as simple as a three-match ban.
There was outrage across the country for his actions, the Football Association then made it clear they were also unimpressed.
The body wrote in a press release: “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.
“In addition, Aleksandar Mitrovic’s behaviour and/or language was allegedly improper and/or abusive and/or insulting and/or threatening following his dismissal.”
Eventually, the association decided on eight games for the Serbian – one of the longest they’ve ever handed out.
In terms of match bans, it was the joint-fifth longest the FA has ever handed out, showing the severity of putting your hands on an official, an unacceptable act by any measure.
It also made Fulham’s head loss not just extremely damaging, but part of English football folklore, and the scenes will be remembered each time these two sides face off for many years to come.
