Nottingham Forest assistant manager Rui Silva suggested that referee Robert Jones should have upheld his initial decision not to dismiss Morgan Gibbs-White, following a chaotic conclusion to a 2-2 draw at Brighton.

Gibbs-White’s lunging tackle on Brighton substitute Joao Pedro sparked ill-tempered scenes at the Amex Stadium, resulting in Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo and Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler also receiving red cards.

Jones initially gestured that Gibbs-White had played the ball cleanly, before later showing the Forest captain a second yellow card, potentially influenced by fourth official Anthony Taylor.

Nuno was then sent off for his reaction, after Hurzeler had been dismissed for stepping onto the pitch to protest a challenge that occurred right in front of the dugouts.

With neither manager available to speak to the media following their dismissals, Silva stepped in, commenting: “If he (Jones) makes that gesture to indicate the ball, maybe he should have stuck with his decision. But I didn’t see the image.

“I believe the referee on the pitch is the primary decision-maker, so if he saw it that way, he should stand by his decision.

“I think the referees took their time to discuss, to talk about the situation, and they ultimately decided to show a second yellow card to Morgan.

“Anthony had one point of view, Rob probably another, and the linesmen had their own perspective.”

Substitute Ramon Sosa salvaged a point for Forest after quick-fire goals from Brighton duo Jack Hinshelwood and Danny Welbeck had overturned Chris Wood’s early penalty for Forest in the first half.

While the result extended the unbeaten records of both sides in the Premier League, the fallout from Gibbs-White’s attempt to stop Pedro became the main talking point by the final whistle.

Silva continued: “I didn’t hear anything from Nuno that warranted a red card. You’re naturally going to defend your player, your team.

“In the Premier League, the football is very intense. If it’s intense on the pitch, it’s hard not to feel that intensity off it as well.

“We experience the same emotions the players are going through, sometimes even more so. It’s not always easy to keep our emotions in check.”

A statement from the Premier League Match Centre X account read: “The referee issued a second yellow card to Gibbs-White for a reckless challenge on Pedro.

“Fabian Hurzeler and Nuno Espirito Santo were both dismissed for their unacceptable behaviour in the technical area following the incident.”

Pedro had missed Brighton’s previous two matches after sustaining an injury during international duty with Brazil.

Brighton’s first-team coach, Andrew Crofts, said: “Late in the match, there was a tackle that we felt was a foul. You could see Joao was in pain, so naturally, you worry about your player.

“Their player didn’t intend to hurt Joao, but it was clearly a foul.

“Their bench didn’t agree it was a foul, but we did.

“After things calmed down a bit, I was speaking to one of the players, so I didn’t actually see the next part of what happened.

“Football is full of emotions, and the referee has to handle things as he sees fit.”

When asked about the involvement of fourth official Taylor, Crofts responded: “I didn’t see what his role in that moment was. I believe he was in communication with the referee to offer his opinion.

“He probably thought it was a foul, and then the referee had to make the final decision.”