Newcastle coach Chris Hughton blamed the "emotional" nature of football for manager Joe Kinnear's dismissal during Saturday's 2-2 draw against Stoke.
Kinnear was sent to the stands by referee Mike Riley after disputing a free-kick awarded in the build-up to Abdoulaye Faye's injury-time equaliser.
"In defence of Joe, we have to realise is that it is a very emotional game," Hughton told BBC Sport.
"We were very unhappy with the decision that led up to the goal."
Already facing a Football Association charge of improper conduct for branding official Martin Atkinson "a Mickey Mouse referee", Kinnear was sent from the bench for comments made to one of Riley's assistants.
He was furious that Sebastien Bassong was penalised for a challenge on Ricardo Fuller and, according to Hughton, a similar incident shortly before.
"I think it was for perceived comments, but from where I was, I certainly didn't hear anything," said Hughton. "That's what I think it was for.
"The linesman had given a decision some four minutes before that, which having seen it again, is exactly the same as our thoughts were at the time - that it wasn't a free-kick.
"It was an old-fashioned shoulder charge, both players competing for the ball, and the free-kick was given.
Newcastle frustrated by late Stoke draw
"Some four minutes later, he give another free-kick in a similar position which again we felt wasn't a free-kick.
"To be fair to the lad Fuller he never tried to make a meal of it, he was on his feet, he had control of the ball."
Kinnear has been no stranger to controversy since arriving at St James' Park.
Shortly after taking from Kevin Keegan he swore 52 times during a furious attack on the media during one of his early press conferences.
Kinnear attacked the "scandalous lies" after several newspapers claimed he had turned up to take training to find there were no players there, when in fact no training had been scheduled.
Kinnear spent the first two games of his managerial reign watching from the stands as he served a two-match touchline ban imposed for calling a referee "Coco the Clown" during his days at Nottingham Forest.
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