De Zerbi could face touchline ban after being charged by FA

Brighton head coach Roberto De Zerbi could face a touchline ban after being charged by the FA following the Albion’s 1-0 home defeat to Fulham.

De Zerbi was sent off in the tunnel after the full time whistle for complaining to referee Darren England about his performance.

The Albion boss was less than impressed that his side had been on the receiving end of some terrible decisions, just 48 hours after PGMOL chief Howard Webb had held a two hour meeting with De Zerbi to explain and apologise for the total cock up VAR made ruling out a perfectly good Brighton goal at Crystal Palace.

Speaking after the Fulham game, De Zerbi said: “I didn’t like the attitude of the referee, I think he’s not a good level of referee.”

“But I think the referee in Premier League is not enough for this very important league. I didn’t tell him bad word, I heard the opponent tell him bad word.”

“I told the referee that this week I had a meeting with his boss and I lost time. I lost two hours, three hours with him.”

“I want to be clear. If you want to come to me to have a meeting and if you want to lose two hours of my time, of my work, you have to have another, a different attitude on the pitch.”

“If you are a referee and I’m a coach. If you want to improve, if you want to improve our work in football, they have to be with another attitude. I don’t want to speak in particular situation, it was penalty, other things. I’m speaking only of attitude.”

The penalty De Zerbi was referring to could either be when Joel Veltman was caught in the box or Kaoru Mitoma pulled to the ground.

Both would have been soft decisions but of the sort that have gone against Brighton frequently in the past. Mr England also let a terrible challenge on Solly March go unpunished whilst doing nothing to discourage Fulham from time wasting.

The ball could not have been in play for more than an hour thanks to the ineptitude of the referee, although admittedly he could not be blamed for the Albion not scoring from at least one of their 17 shots.

De Zerbi went onto claim that he did not swear at Mr England, insisting it was a Fulham player and that his red card was therefore a result of mistaken identity.

“I can hear one opponent say a bad word and I won’t repeat this word. The referee without personality to keep the game in control. One time I lost time with the meeting and it will never happen again. I’m not in England just to let me fool around by the meetings.”

The FA’s regulation and discipline statement regarding De Zerbi’s charge said: “Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi has been charged following their Premier League game against Fulham on Saturday, February 18.

“It’s alleged that the manager’s behaviour on the pitch at full time was improper and that his behaviour and/or language towards a match official in the tunnel afterwards was abusive and/or insulting and/or improper. Roberto De Zerbi has until Monday, February 27, to provide a response.”

De Zerbi has already picked up two yellow cards and a red this season, becoming the most passionate and outspoken manager on the sidelines Brighton have had since Gus Poyet He Who Must Not Be Named.

He still has some way to go however to outdo Poyet You Know Who. Amongst Gus’ more memorable moments were getting sent off away at Leyton Orient and then saying after the game that referee Steve Cook needed glasses.

Poyet The Dark Lord was also famously dismissed in the first half of the opening game at the Amex, having spent most of the build up to game against Doncaster Rovers telling everyone and anyone how the Albion needed to be in control of their emotions on such a momentous occasion. Classic Gus.

The De Zerbi case is being treated as non-standard by the FA which means a hefty fine or touchline ban could be imposed. Any appeal which fails and is considered frivolous could result in further punishment for the Albion head coach.

If De Zerbi were to be banned, it would most likely be for Brighton’s next Premier League fixture at home to West Ham United.

The Albion then travel to another struggling side, 1996 Coca Cola Cup runners up The Leeds United a week later. To be without De Zerbi as he serves a ban for one or both of those matches would be a big blow.

Whereas De Zerbi has to explain himself to an FA hearing and potentially faces a heavy punishment, Mr England gets away scot-free for having a shit day at the office in Brighton 0-1 Fulham.

Would it not be nice if referees were frequently held to the same standards as managers?