Roberto De Zerbi And Cristian Stellini Sent Off After Clash Involving Tottenham And Brighton Coaching Staff

Managers Cristian Stellini and Roberto De Zerbi were both sent off during Tottenham's 2-1 win over Brighton on Saturday.

Referee Stuart Attwell had to pause the match in the second half to deal with angry clashes between members of coaching staff.

Tottenham's fitness coach Stefano Bruno appeared to be at the heart of a heated row.

Stellini had not been involved at all but Attwell opted to punish the Spurs boss and his Brighton counterpart for their failure to control their colleagues.

Coaching staff from Tottenham and Brighton pictured rowing with each other during Saturday's game

IMAGO/PA Images/Zac Goodwin

Tottenham fans made their feelings known while interim manager Stellini was walking back to the locker rooms as they chanted the name of former boss Mauricio Pochettino.

Pochettino is said to be among the candidates in Tottenham's search for a permanent manager to take over in the summer.

Stellini and De Zerbi had appeared to disagree about something before Saturday's game had even started.

TV cameras captured De Zerbi angrily pointing his finger in Stellini's face prior to kick-off.

After the match, De Zerbi accused Stellini of disrespecting him.

"I am used to always respecting everyone and I want the same to me," said De Zerbi in an interview with BBC Sport.

It is understood that De Zerbi had taken offense to a recent article published by Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport in which Stellini apparently suggested that the Brighton manager's success this season was largely due to the work of his predecessor.

The headline read: "De Zerbi exploited all of Graham Potter’s work at Brighton".

On the pitch, Tottenham were rather lucky to get all three points.

Brighton dominated possession with 65% and recorded 17 shots to Tottenham's nine.

The Seagulls also had two goals disallowed for handball and were seemingly unlucky not to be awarded at least one penalty, maybe three.

Son Heung-min fired Spurs in front in the 10th minute with a fine curling strike from long range that saw him become the first Asian player to score 100 EPL goals.

Brighton deservedly drew level before half-time thanks to a powerful header from Lewis Dunk.

But the home side netted a winner against the run of play in the 79th minute when Harry Kane provided a fine whipped finish following good work from Pierre Hojbjerg.