Hull City interim manager Mike Phelan questioned the decision to send off Jake Livermore as the Tigers fell to Arsenal 4-1 on Saturday.
Fans at the KCOM Stadium were audibly upset with some of decisions of referee Roger East, particularly when he adjudged Livermore deliberately handled the ball in the 40th minute.
"My only question is was it a deliberate handball, which made it a sending-off," Phelan said after the game.
"We all have hindsight afterwards when we see everything replayed and what have you, but I don't think it was hand to ball, I thought it was more ball to the arm.
"I think Jake was probably on the half turn at the same time, so the referee deemed it deliberate handball, which is a red card.
"Then again, we can look at the other offence and it's the opposite of that. Penalty decision, keeper brings a player down -- yellow card.
"We know the rules, we can't object against them, it was just the definition of whether that was a deliberate handball or not. I felt as though it wasn't a deliberate handball."
Phelan joked it was hard enough playing against 11 Arsenal players and preparing for that task is the reason he held off on contract talks.
The interim manager has now been offered a deal to become Steve Bruce's full-time successor and will speak with his family about the deal on Sunday before meeting vice-chairman Ehab Allam on Monday.
Phelan said with a laugh: "My future is a lot brighter, I think -- 48 hours ago I was offered some terms.
"Due to this game being so quickly upon us, I decided just to leave that alone and we'll have a little read of it and see where we are going with it and discuss it with the family, hopefully take this club on."