The Portuguese received a summary ban for unflattering statements addressed to the referees
Head coach Nottingham Forest Nuno Espirito Santo received a three-match disqualification based on his removal during the away match of the 5th round English Premier League against Brighton (2:2).
The Football Association said in a statement that the 50-year-old Portuguese “acted inappropriately and/or used offensive and/or obscene words towards the match referee.” In addition, Nunu will be fined 55 thousand pounds.
The incident happened in the 83rd minute of the match, when the final score was already 2:2. Visiting midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White was sent off by chief referee Rob Jones for a second yellow card. Immediately after this, Santu and Seagulls coach Fabian Hürzeler entered into an altercation, for which both also saw a red light in front of them. At the same time, everyone got it from Nunu – both the referee on the field and the reserve Anthony Taylor.
Other violators were also punished. Gibbs-White was fined £20,000 and suspended for one game. Hürzeler got away with an eight thousand fine.
After the match, the Portuguese coach admitted his guilt and apologized for his attacks on the referees, hoping for leniency. However, the FA was not merciful to the repeat offender, adding another ban to two matches – for the incident of insulting the referee from last season, from that very scandalous match against Everton (0: 2).
Let’s remember that in August the Association fined Espirita Santa (40 thousand pounds) and his ward, defender Neco Williams (24 thousand), for harsh statements about referee Stuart Atwell. Nottingham Forest later received a fine of 750 thousand pounds sterling for an offensive post published at the same time in April, addressed to the referee in question.
The Foresters, who successfully escaped relegation last season, have so far suffered only one defeat in seven rounds in the current championship and occupy a place in the very middle of the table. Forest next host Crystal Palace on October 21.
Source: Sportarena
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