Albion physio Malcolm Stuart has been banned from next week's big derby match against Crystal Palace.

Stuart will have to sit in the stands at Selhurst Park on Tuesday after the FA punished him for speaking out of turn to match officials.

The Seagulls' long-serving medical man admitted a breach of FA Rule E3 - abusive and/or insulting words towards a match official - during the home game against Sheffield United on September 13.

Stuart was involved in a heated exchange with referee Lee Probert and fourth official Steve Tomlinson in the second half of Albion's 1-0 defeat by the Championship leaders at Withdean.

He has been suspended from the Palace clash and fined £250.

"I'm allowed to the game but I'm banned from the dugout," Stuart said. "Matt Miller (assisting physio) and the doctors will be on the bench. I'll be sitting in the stand and I'll have a link-up with the doc.

"The last time I went to Selhurst as a supporter in the Seventies we won so maybe it's a lucky omen, but a ban is ridiculous.

"They paid no attention to my letter of explanation and it is using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

"I have been at the club since 1977 and I've never even been reported before.

"What annoys me is that nobody looks at the cause of it all, which was a referee and two linesmen completely out of kilter with each other."