Angel Di Maria Set to Escape Extra FA Punishment for Shoving Ref Michael Oliver

Manchester United star Angel Di Maria is currently awaiting the FA's verdict on his punishment for making contact with referee Michael Oliver during Monday's 2-1 FA Cup loss against Arsenal, but he will likely escape a long suspension.

The Daily Mail's Graham Poll believes the Argentina international's transgression was light enough to be dismissed by the FA, and the fact he only received a second yellow card for it will help his cause:

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Angel Di Maria had to be sent off by referee Michael Oliver for grabbing the official’s shirt after being correctly cautioned for simulation.

The United player will be awaiting the reaction from the FA, who usually take a dim view of physical contact with officials.

I hope there is not too strong a reaction as Di Maria’s touch was light and born of frustration rather than aggression. 

As Oliver only gave a second yellow for the offence, the FA are unlikely to punish Di Maria further. Di Maria had been booked earlier for a dive.

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The 27-year-old was booked for simulation deep in the second half of Monday's clash and reacted by tugging at Oliver's shirt. The 30-year-old referee turned around and promptly brandished a second yellow card, sending off Di Maria at a time when his club sorely needed him.

Eurosport.com shared an image of the moment the forward pulled back Oliver's shirt:

According to Sky Sports, United boss Louis van Gaal made no excuses for his player, who he believes should have known you simply can't put your hands on an official under any circumstances:

Di Maria's dismissal carries an automatic one-match suspension, meaning the winger won't be available for United's crucial match against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

The Red Devils' next fixture comes one week later, another pivotal encounter as the team travels to Anfield to take on rivals Liverpool. With the race for a top-four finish in the league as close as ever, Van Gaal will undoubtedly hope his star forward will be back for that match.

Di Maria's fate will likely depend on how the FA views his intentions and if it wants to make a statement against making contact with officials. The Argentinian didn't approach Oliver in an aggressive manner, and it's possible the referee relayed that in his post-match report.

Oliver was widely praised for his excellent performance handling such a difficult match, with former Premier League star Didi Hamann joining in on the action:

Di Maria hasn't been in the greatest form in recent weeks—he hasn't scored a goal since early January, per WhoScored.com—so an extended stint on the sidelines may actually benefit his play in the long run. But as things stand, a lengthy suspension seems unlikely.

And with United's schedule looking fairly daunting in the coming weeks, fans have to hope the FA will be lenient. Adnan Januzaj is the Argentinian's most natural replacement, but the Belgian is enduring a rough campaign and would be a significant step down in terms of quality.

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