Stoke v Sunderland: Gus Poyet wants apology after red card

Sunderland manager Gus Poyet wants Wes Brown's red card in the defeat at Stoke to be rescinded - and for referees' chief Mike Riley to apologise.

Referee Kevin Friend dismissed Brown for a tackle on Charlie Adam during the 2-0 loss, though the defender appeared to win the ball cleanly.

Last week, Riley rang West Brom boss Steve Clarke after a controversial penalty award against Chelsea.

"Maybe Mike needs to call. I will have my phone on," Poyet told BBC Sport.

Sunderland were trailing 1-0 to a 30th-minute Adam strike when Brown went sliding in on the Stoke goalscorer and, after a short delay, was sent off by Friend.

Poyet, who reacted furiously at the time, shouting at the officials and throwing his coat to the ground, added: "Either we get an apology or you don't make me appeal and take the red card away. We can accept the mistake from the referee and we move forward.

"Sometimes we keep asking ourselves what is going on because it is difficult to understand. I would like somebody to explain. If you explain the action with some different words maybe I try to give some credit to the referee.

"But I don't think there is any explanation. Was it a two-footed tackle? No. Was he not in control? No. Over the ball? No. Was the opponent in danger? No. Did he make contact? No. Please explain me. It is difficult to accept."

Riley, who is in charge of the the Professional Game Match Officials Board (PGMOB), contacted Clarke to say sorry for referee Andre Marriner's contentious decision to award a late spot-kick to Chelsea in the 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge on 9 November.

Poyet added: "I would like the referees' association to apologise to me this time.

"They did it last week. I think it is fair - they called a British manager and I think it is time for them to call a foreign manager."