Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has accused Mark Clattenburg of making comments to Gareth Barry that led to the midfielder's suspension.
Barry is unavailable for today's match against Newcastle United after receiving a one-match ban for directing abusive language at Clattenburg during last weekend's Manchester derby.
Mancini thinks that Clattenburg provoked his player on the touchline while carrying out his role as fourth official and insists that he was wrong to press charges.
He told The Mirror: "I think that Gareth is a serious man, a serious player and I don't know why Clattenburg brought or said these things about Gareth.
"I don't know if it's because he came from this problem after Chelsea but I think every referee or fourth official should understand that after one game you lose in the last second if a player says inappropriate words they should understand this.
"Gareth is a serious guy. He said he didn't say anything about Clattenberg. It's difficult to remember, but also if he said inappropriate words against Clattenburg I think the official should understand this."
Clattenburg has only recently returned from being cleared of racially abusing Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel at Stamford Bridge in October.
Liam Power
