Aleksandar Mitrovic has made some bizarre comments about the incident that caused him to be banned for three games after he elbowed Manuel Lanzini of West Ham in the second half of the match.
The referee missed the foul but it was replayed on Match of the Day, and it was clearly violent behavior, and the FA acted retroactively.
Mitrovic accepted the charge, and he was given the standard three match ban.
But in an interview reported in the Chronicle Mitro says he is puzzled why he was banned and says the incident wasn’t even a foul.
Aleksandar Mitrovic – incident wasn’t even a foul
This is what Aleksandar Mitrovic said:
“It is very frustrating for me,” “These are the rules, but I didn’t mean to do this, the things they have accused me of.”
“It wasn’t even a foul in the game. I have three or four incidents like this every match, so I don’t understand it, I was really surprised.”
“It has been really tough to get my head around. It was an accident. I spoke to Lanzini after the game and he was fine.”
“You maybe get 10 clashes like that with a defender in a game. It was not even a foul, it was not even a yellow card, but I have to accept my punishment.”
“If I say something more they can punish me even more.” “I haven’t spoken to Rafa about it yet, but I will do. I’m not sure what he can say.”
“It is going to be hard to miss these games. I’ve scored two goals already this season, it is very hard for my head to stay focused and strong.”
“But that’s life. That’s football. I just have to stay fit and sharp so that I can help the team when I return.”
It’s a pity Mitrovic has been banned because he has shown some signs of getting into good form.
And if he didn’t think it was even a foul then how come he didn’t appeal the charge?
So some strange comments coming from the Serbian International striker and we don’t think when he does talk to Rafa about the incident – the manager is going to be too happy with him.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
12 comments so far
catchy in norway
Sep 8, 2017 at 8:01 AM
Comment #1i belive him
Mindshaft
Sep 8, 2017 at 8:07 AM
Comment #2It was more a clumsy challenge and although a foul the ref probably got it right, it was trial be a thousand slow motion replays by sky tv
c-dog
Sep 8, 2017 at 8:08 AM
Comment #3Hope he gets an extended run for us this year. He’s quality and will be leading the line for his country in Russia next summer.
martoon
Sep 8, 2017 at 8:15 AM
Comment #4It looks worse in slow motion – in real time Mitro was just trying to block the defender. Still puzzles me how he gets a suspension for that but nothing for the guy who kicked Mbemba in the face despite there being photos of it all over the internet!
lochinvar
Sep 8, 2017 at 8:47 AM
Comment #5Does FA stand for Failed Atrociously ?
Their decisions are selective and influenced by biased pundits looking to keep themselves in lucrative jobs and being contentious is part of that.
It’s not rocket science for the FA to either introduce TMO’s or to review ALL referred incidents from ALL matches or even watch ALL of ALL Matches and apply the same rules to all incidents.
But then again it would interrupt their gin fuelled business lunches down at their private club so don’t expect too much action or change.
geordiemark
Sep 8, 2017 at 9:22 AM
Comment #6he hardly touched him and the west ham player made a meal of it, going back to the spurs game kane should have been straight red end off and i thought alli was a right arsehole play acting he should have been sorted out then back to the west ham game the fa should have banned there striker for the foul on Richie that’s for a starters, the fa have always been like this to Newcastle united since the year dot
dcdick
Sep 8, 2017 at 9:23 AM
Comment #7Wish the ref had booked Mitro & that would have been the end of it.
Harry Kane escaped with a booking in spite of a totally illegal “tackle” from behind that injured our player because the ref took action at the time.
If a ref try’s to let the game flow without handing out cards all the time the “pundits” latch onto things like this & issue judgement……………………..” trial by tv”
It stinks & is very selective, is there bias against NUFC ?
I think there is !!
Dick.
goalseeker
Sep 8, 2017 at 9:58 AM
Comment #8Yes the FA curse strikes again. I do not defend Mitro every time but this time I am right on his side. He gets these incidents against him for the whole match but that is expected so nothing is done the ref saw the incident did not blow a foul and made no note of it in his report. So, back to trial by 1000 slow motion images stop frames we will defo find something wrong attitude, especially when the learned MOD pundits saw a foul when no one else did even the victim.
Why did Mitro not appeal come on Ed you know if you appeal and lose your appeal you get at least one more match ban for wasting valuable drinkie-poo time for the grey haired send the cheque in the post brigade. Perhaps that is why he did not appeal he was spot on this time.
wartongeordie
Sep 8, 2017 at 10:02 AM
Comment #9Just out of interest, did anyone see the head on smash that Perez received just as he put Mitro through for his goal, same game, same ref, same TV panel, anyone see it but me ???
Geordie-john
Sep 8, 2017 at 10:21 AM
Comment #10A lot of players are very good at creating the incident looking for a reaction, Then squeal like little girls or roll around the ground as if they had been shot by a sniper in the crowd. The officials normally react to the wrong player ( Like the Ali incident with John Jo Shelvey ) And in the same game Ali tried to wind Lascelles up and Harry Kane done a number on Lejeune with his trailing leg and his two footed tackle. No Red card, Not even a yellow ! Just an injury. I feel sorry for our players as they are trying to play football like men and not little cheats who cannot take the embarrassment of another player beating them fare and square.
The cameras and pundits ( especially Gary Neville ) need to highlight the correct incidents and stop the cheating PERIOD . Not just point out one or two incidents like Mitro’s latest. Like he has said there is 2 sides to everything and they need to be looked at correctly. OR our players should start cheating like the rest of them.
cornishman
Sep 8, 2017 at 6:31 PM
Comment #11Unfortunately Mitch has a reputation some deserved and some not. Trial by TV has the ability to emphasis it all with the baying likes of Gary Neville more than ready to pour out his bile. Wish he could sod of back to Spain and show how bad a coach he was/is.
Sav
Sep 9, 2017 at 12:54 AM
Comment #12Just because he’s ours doesn’t make it right. What good did the elbow do? Plain stupid. The gobshite got himself banned for 3 games and is looking for excuses. His blatant dive got Robbie Brady booked in the last international. He hasn’t learned since he got here and it’s doubtful he will change tack now.