Fulham this morning responded to the latest FA charge against Marco Silva, for comments he made about referee Chris Kavanagh following Fulham’s FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Manchester United.
Fulham lost the match 3-1 at Old Trafford. In a remarkable handful of second-half minutes, Willian was sent off for handball, Aleksandar Mitrovic then saw red for barging referee Kavanagh, and manager Silva was also dismissed for both comments he made to the match official and leaving his technical area.
Then in his post-match press conference, Silva seemed to argue that Kavanagh has made previous incorrect calls when officiating Fulham matches, suggesting he feels the referee has shown a bias against the club.
For that, the Football Association issued a statement saying: “[Silva’s] comments constitute improper conduct in that they imply bias and/or question the integrity of the match official, and/or bring the game into disrepute.”
Fulham submitted an official response this morning, and are understood to have accepted the charge against their manager.
Silva was initially charged for his animated reaction to the handball, in which he was adjudged to have used “abusive and/or insulting words and/or gestures and/or behaviour towards the match referee; that he used abusive and/or insulting words towards the fourth official prior to his dismissal; and that he also used abusive and/or insulting words and/or gestures and/or behaviour towards the fourth official after being sent off.”
The FA also charged him with improper conduct for “throwing a water bottle in the direction of the assistant referee”.
Serbian striker Mitrovic appeared to push Kavanagh and had to be pulled away after his red card. Mitrovic was charged with improper behaviour and/or language — the red card deemed to be insufficient punishment for his behaviour.
The club itself was then charged by the FA for failing to ensure their players “conducted themselves in an orderly fashion”.
Charges against Mitrovic and Silva were ‘non-standard’, meaning they require a hearing in front of a Regulatory Commission. Fulham have requested an in-person or digital personal hearing, instead of one using formal documentation.
Standard Sport has contacted the FA for details about the hearing.
