Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Roberto De Zerbi has been fined £15,000 and handed a one-match touchline ban by the FA following his red card in the defeat against Fulham last month.
The 43-year-old was dismissed on his way down the tunnel for venting his frustration to referee Darren England after the Seagulls lost 1-0 at home to the Cottagers in the Premier League on February 18.
After the match, De Zerbi confirmed that he had received a red card and later criticised the level of Premier League refereeing as "very bad".
De Zerbi's criticism came a week after holding a face-to-face meeting with PGMOL chief Howard Webb who apologised to the Italian after Brighton were wrongly disallowed a goal by VAR in the 1-1 draw away against Crystal Palace.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the defeat against Fulham, De Zerbi said: "I told the referee this week, we had a meeting with his boss and I lost time in my work, in my job because I think the level of refereeing in the Premier League is very bad.
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"To progress, we have to be with a different attitude and the referee today wasn't in a good attitude. But it's not a problem. I didn't say any bad words, but I told him my opinion.
"I lost time to prepare my team. It was the last time I will have a meeting [with the PGMOL]."
The former Shakhtar Donetsk and Sassuolo boss added: "One time I lost time, it will never happen again. I'm not in England just to let me fool around with the meeting."
It has since been confirmed by the FA that De Zerbi has be punished with a £15,000 fine and will be banned from the touchline for Brighton's Premier League home encounter against West Ham United on Saturday.
An FA statement read: "Brighton & Hove Albion's Roberto De Zerbi has been suspended from the touchline for one match and fined £15,000 following their Premier League game against Fulham on Saturday 18 February.
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"The head coach admitted that his behaviour on the pitch at full time was improper, and that his behaviour and/or language in the tunnel afterwards towards a match official was abusive and/or insulting and/or improper.
"An independent Regulatory Commission imposed his sanctions following a subsequent hearing."
Brighton have confirmed that De Zerbi's assistant Andrea Maldera will take charge of the first team at the Amex Stadium, with the Seagulls seeking to avoid a third successive league game without a win.
After losing to Fulham, Brighton bounced back with a narrow 1-0 victory over Stoke City in the FA Cup fifth round on Wednesday, courtesy of a first-half strike from Evan Ferguson.
Solly March and Pervis Estupinan both missed the midweek trip to the bet365 Stadium due to minor injuries, but De Zerbi has confirmed that the Seagulls duo are available to face West Ham.
Brighton remain in the hunt to secure European football this season and they currently sit eighth in the Premier League table, with a victory over the Hammers potentially moving them to within three points of the top five.
Oliver Thomas
