Stoke City manager Tony Pulis has laid the blame for Robert Huth's red card this afternoon on Sunderland midfielder David Meyler.
Huth and Meyler contested a challenge at the Britannia Stadium which resulted in the former being dismissed by referee Martin Atkinson.
Pulis has accused Meyler of trying to get his player sent off.
"The disappointing thing is the sending-off," Pulis told BBC Sport. "Robert skids in but doesn't touch the player. The referee hasn't taken the conditions into consideration.
"[Meyler] rolls around and stays down, but Robert hasn't touched him. The player tries to get him sent off. It's a disease that's creeping into the game."
Stoke lost the fixture 1-0.