'Not right' - A major blow for Brighton as they prepare for West Ham

The Seagulls manager was shown the card in the tunnel following his side’s 1-0 defeat two weeks ago after confronting referee Darren England.

De Zerbi, who has also been fined £15,000, said of England afterwards: “I think he’s not a good level of referee. But I think the referees in the Premier League are not enough for this very important league.”

The Italian had met with referees’ chief Howard Webb earlier that week after Brighton had a goal incorrectly ruled out for offside against Crystal Palace.

A statement from the Football Association read: “Brighton and 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, February 18.

“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.”

De Zerbi’s assistant Andrea Maldera will take over touchline duties against West Ham on Saturday as Brighton try to claim a first win in three games in the league.

“The players know very well what they have to do,” said De Zerbi. “I am lucky to be a coach of this squad. It is not a big problem if I stay or not on the bench. It’s a problem for me because my life is to stay on the bench, not to stay on the stand.”

Although he accepted the charge, De Zerbi maintained his belief he had not done anything wrong, saying: “It’s good because it’s finished and we start again.

“I’m used to living in football for 30 years. I have to accept the decisions even if I don’t think they are right. For me it’s not a problem, the problem is to win the game tomorrow. But I consider it not the right decision.

“I think I can’t change and I think I didn’t make mistakes in terms of respect or bad words, but I prefer staying in my place and my place is on the bench.”

Brighton will have Pervis Estupinan and Solly March, who both missed the midweek FA Cup win over Stoke, back available, while Levi Colwill is not yet quite ready to return.