Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo won’t be able to direct his team from the dugout against Leicester City next week after receiving a three-game touchline ban.
Nuno has admitted a charge of improper conduct for his reaction to Morgan Gibbs-White’s red card at the end of the 2-2 draw with Brighton last month and despite issuing apologies to referee Rob Jones and fourth official Anthony Taylor, he has not escaped punishment. The FA fined the Portuguese boss £55,000 and imposed a two-match touchline ban, which in turn activated a one-match suspended ban from the end of last season.
With Nuno unable to sit in the dugout for the next three matches, he will be absent for next Friday’s big East Midlands derby at the King Power Stadium. It will see City boss Steve Cooper take on his former club for the first time.
After receiving his punishment, Nuno said: “I’m surprised. It’s a big sanction but there’s nothing we can do. We had a hearing, everything was normal. The sanction has been decided. Let’s go.”
Midfielder Gibbs-White was given a one-match suspension for his reaction but it’s an injury that may keep him out of the clash at the King Power. The England international was seen on crutches earlier this week.
Asked on Friday if Gibbs-White would be fit to face City, Nuno replied: “It’s always a day-by-day assessment. It’s always with the medical department and the player to see how he is. For now, for Palace (on Monday), he’s not available.”
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