ALEKSANDAR MITROVIC has avoided further punishment for his shoving of referee Chris Kavanagh.
The Fulham hitman, 28, was given an EIGHT-MATCH ban for pushing the official in the Cottagers’ FA Cup quarter-final tie with Manchester United last month.
FA chiefs were hoping to make a further example of the Serbian by extending his suspension.
But an independent panel have decided the original punishment fits the crime.
An FA statement read: “An Independent Appeal Board has dismissed appeals from the FA in relation to recent sanctions for Fulham’s Marco Silva and Aleksandar Mitrovic, and they will face no further action.
“Marco Silva and Aleksandar Mitrovic were sanctioned by an independent Regulatory Commission following a hearing in relation to their tie against Manchester United in The FA Cup on Sunday 19 March.
“The FA appealed the match-based sanctions imposed on the manager and forward in order to seek to increase the sanctions.
“But both appeals were subsequently dismissed by the independent Appeal Board.
“Marco Silva is free to be on the touchline from this weekend and Aleksandar Mitrovic will remain unavailable for the club’s next five matches.”
It means Mitrovic will return for Fulham’s final three games of the season – including a trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.
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Serbia international Mitrovic didn’t try to defend his actions, which he issued a grovelling apology for.
In a statement on the club’s website, he said: “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 teammates on the pitch as soon as possible.
“In the meantime, I would like to reiterate my regret that this happened.
“I have already said sorry to my team-mates, but I would also like to apologise to the Fulham fans, particularly those who travelled to Old Trafford to support us and who did not stop singing all game.
“I hope to be back soon and repay their faith and support.”
Fulham will be back in action on Saturday afternoon, welcoming Leeds United to Craven Cottage.
