NOTTINGHAM FOREST head coach Nuno Espirito Santo has been handed a three-match touchline ban and fined £55,000 after accepting a misconduct charge from the Football Association when he was sent off against Brighton.

Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, who was dismissed for a second yellow card late on in the 2-2 draw at the Amex Stadium, has been handed a one-match suspension and £20,000 fine by an independent regulatory commission.

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler was also charged by the FA after he encroached on to the field to protest about Gibbs-White’s challenge on Joao Pedro, with Nuno subsequently sent off by referee Robert Jones for his angry reaction to the Forest midfielder’s dismissal.

A statement from the FA read: “Nuno Espirito Santo, Morgan Gibbs-White and Fabian Hurzeler admitted to their respective charges.

“The independent regulatory commission imposed a two-match touchline suspension and £55,000 fine on the Nottingham Forest head coach, which activated a further one-match touchline ban that had been suspended, as well as a one-match suspension and £20,000 fine on the Nottingham Forest midfielder.

“The Brighton & Hove Albion manager was fined £8,000 after accepting the standard penalty.”

Meanwhile, Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has been given a five-match stadium ban following “improper” behaviour around the tunnel in their 1-0 defeat to Fulham in September.

Marinakis cannot attend matches until November 30 — missing games against Crystal Palace, Leicester, West Ham, Newcastle and Arsenal — after an independent regulatory commission found the Forest owner guilty after he had denied the charge.

The incident came after Raul Jimenez scored a controversial penalty to snatch Fulham a 1-0 win at the City Ground. Andreas Pereira went down under Murillo’s challenge and after a lengthy VAR check, Josh Smith awarded the spot-kick.

Forest were further aggrieved when another VAR decision went in favour of Fulham after Calvin Bassey appeared to bring down Anthony Elanga inside the area but Smith waved penalty claims away.

A statement from the FA read: “Nottingham Forest’s Evangelos Marinakis has been sanctioned by an independent regulatory commission.

“Evangelos Marinakis was charged with misconduct following Nottingham Forest’s Premier League match against Fulham on Saturday September 28.

“It was alleged that his behaviour around the tunnel area after the final whistle was improper.

“He denied this charge, but it was found proven by the independent regulatory commission, and a five-match stadium/ground suspension has been imposed.

“The independent regulatory commission’s written reasons for its decisions will be published in due course.”

Nottingham Forest immediately released a statement of their own announcing they have appealed against the decision.

It read: “Nottingham Forest Football Club notes the decision of the regulatory commission in relation to its owner, Evangelos Marinakis.

“An appeal has immediately been lodged against this decision in respect of both the liability and the sanction.”