Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic faces rest of season ban as referee chief calls for ‘more than 10 games’

Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic could be banned for the rest of the season, after being charged by the FA for pushing referee Chris Kavanagh in Sunday's FA Cup defeat at Manchester United.

The Serbia striker was last night charged with violent and improper conduct, and the FA have said that their standard punishment for his red card at Old Trafford is "clearly insufficient".

The president of the Referees' Association has called for a ban that is longer than 10 matches. Fulham have only 11 games left this season.

Losing Mitrovic to a long ban would be a major blow to the club, who are allowed to submit a written response to the charges with evidence. That is likely to include how United captain Bruno Fernandes escaped punishment for pushing assistant Adam Nunn during their 7-0 defeat at Liverpool.

Paolo Di Canio was banned for 11 matches in 1998 for shoving referee Paul Alcock when playing in a Premier League game for Sheffield Wednesday against Arsenal.

Paul Field, president of the Referees' Association, said the suspension for Mitrovic should extend into next season. "I hope it's more than 10 games," Field told the BBC. "They should put a really decent time on this. Referees put up with this week in, week out. At an amateur level, a player is looking at about a year's ban."

Fulham head coach Marco Silva has been charged with abusive behaviour towards match officials, while the club has landed an additional charge of failing to control its players at Old Trafford.