Everton boss Roberto Martinez claimed Sunderland should have had two men sent off after a hard-fought 1-1 Premier League draw on Wearside.
Midfielder Jordi Gomez, who played under Martinez at Wigan, and striker Connor Wickham were perhaps both fortunate not to see red as referee Lee Mason adopted a lenient approach during the match at the Stadium of Light.
Gomez -- who had earlier been booked for a foul which saw Gareth Barry depart for hospital -- escaped further punishment after going down easily on the edge of the box under Phil Jagielka's challenge, while Wickham received no additional sanction after tripping Seamus Coleman for a match-saving penalty.
Asked if Wickham should have gone, Martinez said: "Yes. I think it's a clear decision. There's no intention whatsoever, it's just a striker trying to win the ball when he's late in the box, he's the wrong side.
"Seamus makes a fantastic run -- it was great penetrating play -- and once you give the penalty away, it's a red card.
"I don't agree with the rule, if I am honest with you, but that's not the debate. The debate is if it's a penalty, it should have been a red card and at that point, I felt that would have been a major, major moment understanding how the game was and the situation of the two teams.
"I don't want to see players sent off, but those are the rules. Jordi had a yellow card and he got caught simulating. The referee saw it, he was going to blow the whistle and then decided against it."
Opposite number Gus Poyet had some sympathy with the Spaniard, and admitted Mr Mason might have been caught in two minds, saying: "Me, I am the type of person that on those decisions, I like black or white, so with Jordi Gomez it's a foul or a yellow.
"Now I understand the referee sometimes -- they explain it to me, I'm not saying what I say -- they say there was a little bit of contact, but not enough to give a free-kick, so it's not a dive. I think it's a way out, really, so yellow or foul.
"The penalty was given and I think from the position of the referee, it was an easy decision to make. When you don't know for real if it's that clear, sometimes referees go 50-50, 'I'll give you the penalty, but I won't send off the player.'
"For me, it's black or white: penalty, red or nothing. We can talk for ages. I would give it, I need to be honest, if I was on the pitch and I was the referee, I would give it."
Sunderland got their noses in front with 67 minutes gone when midfielder Sebastian Larsson curled a fine free-kick over the defensive wall and beyond the outstretched arm of goalkeeper Tim Howard.
However, the lead lasted just nine minutes as Leighton Baines levelled from the penalty spot following Wickham's challenge on Coleman.
Wes Brown might have won it for the Black Cats deep into injury time but his header was cleared off the line by the vigilant James McCarthy, who remained on the field despite complaining of tightness in his hamstring which will be assessed on Monday as he prepares to join up with the Republic of Ireland squad.
Barry was sent to hospital for X-rays on his tibia, though the manager later confirmed that the midfielder has suffered suspect ankle ligament damage rather than a leg break.
Meanwhile, Poyet confirmed that full-back Patrick van Aanholt needs surgery to repair his dislocated shoulder and will be sidelined for at least two-and-a-half months.