Brighton captain Lewis Dunk has apologised to referee Anthony Taylor for his X-rated outburst and admitted he let his team down.

The centre back became the first Premier League player sent off for a foul and abusive language in more than 11 years when Taylor’s patience snapped at Nottingham Forest last weekend.

‘I spoke to Anthony straight after the game and apologised,’ said Dunk. ‘We had a good conversation about it.’

Dunk, 32, also realised his behaviour was not befitting of a senior pro meant to be setting an example. ‘I let the boys down,’ he said. ‘That is on me. I am a leader of this football club and it’s not good enough what I did.

Lewis Dunk said he had apologised to referee Anthony Taylor straight after Brighton’s 3-2 win against Nottingham Forest 

The defender was the first player to be sent off for a foul and dissent in the Premier League for over 11 years

Mail Sport has launched a campaign to stop the abuse of referees at all levels of the game

‘I have got to learn from that myself and be the role model to the other boys coming through, and that is not how you do it.’

Dunk’s red card rules him out of tomorrow’s trip to Chelsea and the home game against Brentford on Wednesday.

It also tarnishes slightly what has proved to be an excellent 2023 for a defender who has led his home-town club into their first European campaign and fought his way back into the England squad.

‘This year has been good for me,’ said Dunk. ‘It’s down to hard work, giving 100 per cent and believing in yourself.’

The 32-year-old admitted that his behaviour ‘was not good enough’ and felt that he had ‘let his team down’