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Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Vitor Pereira has been fined £15,000 after being found guilty of misconduct during his side’s Premier League match against Brighton & Hove Albion on October 5.
The Football Association (FA) confirmed the charge related to an incident around the 19th minute of the match, when Pereira was dismissed for acting “in an improper manner.” The Portuguese coach admitted the charge under FA Rule E3.1 and did not request a personal hearing.
The referee’s official report stated:
“I have to report that I, as the Referee sent off Vitor Pereira of Wolverhampton Wanderers FC… Under Law 12 section: Physical or aggressive behaviour (including biting and spitting). In the 20th minute of the match, I didn't award a free kick to Wolves in the middle of the pitch and play continued… Pereira left the technical area and kicked a ball towards the direction of the sky sports / match manager's dugout. The match manager had to take evasive action, and the ball struck the Sky Sports floor manager.”
Sky Sports’ floor manager also gave evidence, describing the moment as an act of frustration rather than aggression:
“In what seemed like an act of pure frustration, rather than any anger or malice, he kicked out at one of the spare balls that sit pitch side… Realising, immediately, what had happened, Mr Pereira came straight over to apologise not just once, but twice! He then apologised again after receiving a red card for his actions.”
He further said the manager was “very level headed, respectful and mild mannered” and that the incident was “completely out of character.”
Pereira, who submitted a written statement along with testimony from the club and the matchday floor manager, admitted his behaviour had been “a temporary lack of emotional control.” He explained that his frustration stemmed from one of his players losing possession after being warned not to do so, but insisted there had been “no malicious intent.”
The Commission acknowledged that Pereira had accepted the charge early, shown remorse, and had no previous misconduct record. A majority of the panel agreed that a financial penalty alone was appropriate, though one member felt a sporting sanction, such as a touchline ban, should have been imposed.
The Commission concluded that a £15,000 fine was fair and proportionate, noting that the incident had not been widely broadcast and that Pereira’s immediate apology was accepted by all involved. The ruling remains subject to appeal.
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