Villarreal coach Marcelino hit out at referee Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez after his side's 2-2 draw with Barcelona at El Madrigal.
Marcelino was sent to the stands for his protests during a game that saw Villarreal come back from two goals down to draw with the champions.
Barca's second goal had come from the penalty spot after Sanchez Martinez ruled that Sergio Asenjo had fouled Neymar, despite replays showing that the Villarreal keeper touched the ball before making contact with the Brazilian.
Barca defender Gerard Pique was also spared a second yellow card for handball, which brought protests from Marcelino and resulted in the coach being sent to the stands.
Speaking to reporters after the game, Marcelino made clear that he felt the 32-year-old referee, who took charge of his first La Liga game in August, had damaged his team's chances of securing victory.
"Without a doubt I would have preferred a more experienced referee than Sanchez Martinez," Marcelino said. "I certainly protested Pique's action but I did not insult the referee. There is a difference.
"Why did he send me off? Not everyone was of the standard required in this game.
"It's difficult to compete any better than my team did when facing so much adversity."
He added: "Barca play and then there's a referee to make decisions. Sometimes we make mistakes and sometimes they do. In today's match not everyone was on form on the pitch. Then it's up to the journalists to make judgements and say what happened out there."
Villarreal had fallen behind on 20 minutes before Neymar doubled the league leaders' advantage with his spot kick shortly before the break.
Cedric Bakambu halved the deficit on 57 minutes before substitute Jeremy Mathieu's own goal soon afterwards made it 2-2.
The point was Villarreal's first in three games and kept the team fourth in the standings.
Marcelino said: "We were better than Barca in general. We scored two goals and matched them in everything they did which is so difficult to do. I am extremely proud of this team. It's difficult to compete any better than that."
Pique, meanwhile, hit back at Real Madrid fans who had criticised the decisions during the game.
The Spain international used his Twitter account to respond to El Espanyol editor Pedro J. Ramirez's insistence he should have been sent off, writing: "Why don't you talk about the first yellow card? Because you're not interested. Don't be a supporter when you are a reporter."
Por qué usted no habla de la primera amarilla? Porque no le interesa. Sáquese la camiseta cuando haga periodismo. https://t.co/Q6XAZA2hxz
- Gerard Piqué (@3gerardpique) 20 de marzo de 2016
He also referred to the penalty Real Madrid won in their 4-0 triumph over Sevilla on Sunday, writing: "Now what?"
Pique has been involved in an ongoing feud with Madrid fans for several months.