Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi rages he dislikes '80 PER CENT' of Premier League referees in a scathing attack on the standard of officiating - as he insists he is 'not able to understand' uncertainty over decision-making

Roberto De Zerbi raged he does not like '80 per cent of Premier League referees' after his 10-man Brighton side were held to a 1-1 draw with Sheffield United.

Simon Adingra had fired the home team into the lead at the Amex Stadium after a solo run before Mahmoud Dahoud's red card changed the complexion of the game.

The sending-off came after midfielder Dahoud stamped on Ben Osborn's ankle, opening the door for the Blades to draw level following Adam Webster's own goal.

De Zerbi, now in the midst of his longest run without a league win at Brighton, was booked for his touchline protests and took aim at the officiating post-match. 

While not disagreeing with John Brooks' decision to dismiss Dahoud, De Zerbi said: 'I am honest and clear... I don't like 80 per cent of English referees.

'That isn't a new opinion. I don't like them. I don't like their behaviour on the pitch.

'England is the only country where when there is VAR, you are not sure that the decision is right. 

'In other countries, you have to be sure 100 per cent that the decision taken is right. In England, no, and I am not able to understand.'

VAR Chris Kavanagh agreed with Brooks' verdict and the red card was upheld, though De Zerbi's overriding gripe was with his side's response after the blow. 

'We are spending time in an unlucky period,' De Zerbi added. 'I think we have lost four points; two against Fulham and two today.

'After the red card, I didn't like the team.

'There wasn't a game until the red card. There was only one team on the pitch. We could have won the game two or three nil, but after the red card the game changed.

'After the red card we can say other things but the situation with one player less, we lost order and our style.'

The result lifted the visitors off the bottom of the table but boss Paul Heckingbottom has described the milestone as 'irrelevant' at this early stage of the season.  

'It is irrelevant - maybe getting off the bottom is important because people keep mentioning it but I'm not bothered. Not yet,' Heckingbottom said.

'What is pleasing is how we've played against a good team.

'It is always about the points. I can give lots of reasons why we haven't picked up more points this season but until you get them they are just excuses.'