The ten longest suspensions in EPL history after Mitrovic's ban

Aleksandar Mitrovic has been handed one of the longest punishments in Premier League history after he was banned for eight games for pushing referee Chris Kavanagh in Fulham's FA Cup exit to Manchester United last month.

The normal three-match ban has been extended to eight games, though the FA are planning to appeal the suspension, as they want the Serbian striker to receive an even heftier punishment.

Mitrovic served the first match of his ban in Fulham's 2-1 defeat at the Bournemouth, and the earliest he can return is their May 13 clash against Southampton - with two games left remaining after that.

However there are ten incidents in Premier League history which led to suspensions just as long as the one Mitrovic has received.

Sportsmail takes a look at the incidents which led to the ten most lengthy bans since the inception of the Premier League.

10. Ben Thatcher (Man City) - 8 games, September 2006

Ben Thatcher received an eight-game ban following a sickening elbow on Portsmouth's Pedro Mendes.

Mendes was left unconcious after Thatcher caught him as he arrived late with his elbow - sending the Portsmouth midfielder sliding towards the advertising boards.

Thatcher got up and argued with concerned Portsmouth players and somehow he was able to escape with just a yellow card.

Mendes received oxygen on the pitch and suffered a seizure on the way to hospital.

The FA decided to take further action after the game, handing him an eight-match ban, while Man City also decided to fine Thatcher six weeks wages.

9. Luis Suarez (Liverpool) - 8 games, December 2011

Luis Suarez has the unwanted distinction of being the only player to make this list twice.

The Uruguayan striker had a controversial spell at Liverpool, and the first of his two lengthy spells on the sidelines at the club came within 12 months of joining from Ajax.

After a 1-1 draw with Manchester United on October 15, 2011, Suarez was accused of racially abusing opponent Patrice Evra.

Suarez pledged his innocence but the FA after a seven-day hearing handed Suarez an eight-match ban and a £40,000 fine.

In the next meeting in February, Suarez famously added to the fire by refusing to shake Evra's hand - something which he and then Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish later had to apologise for.

8. David Prutton (Southampton) - 10 games, March 2005

David Prutton, who now works as a commentator for Sky Sports, received a ten-match ban for a similar incident to Mitrovic.

The Southampton midfielder was sent off for a second yellow with a late studs-up challenge on Arsenal's Robert Pires.

Prutton felt the Frenchman had made a meal of the challenge, and he attempted to remonstrate the decision to award the foul with assistant referee Paul Norman who had flagged the incident up.

However, he would then go on to push on-field referee Alan Wiley more than once, as he attempted to get between Prutton and Norman.

The Southampton player would go onto be handed a ten-match ban and £6,000 fine by the FA and would later acknowledge he had made a mistake.

He only returned for Southampton's last game of the season - a must-win against Man United to ensure their Premier League safety - which they ultimately lost 2-1 to drop to the Championship.

7. Luis Suarez (Liverpool) - 10 games, April 2013

Suarez received his second long-term ban since joining the Premier League after biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic on the arm.

It was the second of three biting incidents in his career - the first of which came while playing for Ajax shortly before his Liverpool move, and the last of which came playing for Uruguay at the 2014 World Cup before he left for Barcelona.

The bite was not noticed by the officials and Suarez would go on to score a stoppage time equaliser in a 2-2 draw.

Suarez accepted the violent conduct charge for his bizarre act but denied the FA's claim that the standard three-match punishment was insufficient for his offence.

A three-man independent panel criticised Suarez for not appreciating 'the seriousness' of the incident - and he received a ten-match ban.

6. Paolo Di Canio (Sheffield Wednesday) - 11 games, September 1998

The most famous incident of a player in the Premier League clashing with a referee.

Paolo Di Canio, famous for his fiery temperament, reacted angrily after he was sent off in a match against Arsenal by referee Paul Alcock.

The Italian retaliated by shoving over the match official, who comically fell to the floor.

However, it was a costly error in judgement from Di Canio who was handed an 11-match ban and fined £10,000 for his actions.

It turned out to be the last time he played for Sheffield Wednesday, as he joined West Ham just three months later.

5. Joey Barton (Queens Park Rangers) - 12 games, May 2012

In a match famous for Sergio Aguero's dramatic stoppage time title winner, Joey Barton was sent off for QPR against his former side Man City.

At potentially the worst possible time with his side fighting for their Premier League survival on the final day of the season, Barton lost his head when he elbowed Carlos Tevez in the head with the score level at 1-1.

After he was shown the red, Barton then kicked Sergio Aguero in the back of the leg, attempted to headbutt Vincent Kompany and had to be held back from squaring up to Mario Balotelli as he walked off the pitch.

For his actions, Barton was suspended 12 games and fined £75,000 by the FA.

QPR fell to a 3-2 defeat but results elsewhere meant they fortunately survived the drop despite Barton's actions.

The club though decided to fine Barton six weeks' wages and he was loaned out to Marseille the following season.

4. Adrian Mutu (Chelsea) - 7 months, November 2004

Chelsea's £16m signing from Parma in August 2003 was sacked little more than a year later after he failed a drugs test, testing positive for cocaine.

Mutu was released from his contract in October 2004 and then received a seven month ban for his recreational drug taking - with the FA fining the Romanian £20,000.

He would then join Juventus in January 2005 - although he couldn't play for them until May that same year.

Mutu was then involved in a long drawn out legal battle with Chelsea after an order that he pay the club £15.2m following his failed drugs test.

In 2018, the European Court of Human Rights rejected Mutu's appeal against a 2015 Court of Arbitration decision that he had to solely pay the compensation to Chelsea.

3. Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United) - 8 months, January 2004

Rio Ferdinand was suspended for eight months in January 2004 for failing to turn up to a drugs test.

He had left after training, forgetting that the drug test was scheduled at United's Carrington base.

Ferdinand returned only to be told it was too late. However, he later undertook the test and passed.

The FA showed no forgiveness to the current BT Sport pundit and handed him the eight month ban which forced him to miss the rest of the season and Euro 2004.

2. Mark Bosnich (Chelsea) - 9 months, December 2002

Mark Bosnich was sacked by Chelsea and given a nine month ban after testing positive for cocaine.

It came just a year after he joined the Blues from Manchester United on a free transfer.

Bosnich had struggled with injuries in his first season and only made five appearances during his time at Chelsea.

The Australian keeper had developed a cocaine addiction and would not return to football under 2008 when he played for Central Coast Mariners.

1. Eric Cantona (Manchester United) - 9 months, January 1995

One of the most famous and controversial moments in Premier League history came at Selhurst Park when Manchester United were trailing Crystal Palace.

Eric Cantona was sent off for a foul on Richard Shaw and on his way to the tunnel he would kung-fu kick a supported in the crowd.

He was suspended for nine months and fined £30,000 by the FA.

Manchester United would lose the title to Blackburn Rovers with Cantona's absence a massive blow for Sir Alex Ferguson's side.

It also led to the famous press conference about his actions, in which he walked out after saying: 'When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea. Thank you very much.'