Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman believes the decision to ban him from the touchline for two matches is "personal"
The 58-year-old was shown a red card against Granada last week for saying “what a character” to the match official González Fuertes.
The Catalans saw off Valencia last weekend without the Dutchman present and will again be without him for the crunch clash against Atletico Madrid on Saturday.
Koeman's assistant Alfred Schreuder took charge and will do so again after the former Netherlands boss saw his appeal rejected.
But he has defended his actions and claimed the decision too punish him must be "personal."
Koeman said: “What I can say is yes, I feel like it's personal.
"For saying 'what a character' I think it is not insulting, it is not a reason to sanction a person for two games, so there is something else.”
He also took issue with the timing of the decision which comes just 24 hours before a game that could have huge ramifications in the La Liga title race.
“I don't know if the committees have met or not but I think it should be before tomorrow," he added.
"They have already sanctioned me with two games and I do not understand why the resolution lasts so long and it cannot be confirmed if I can be there tomorrow or not."
Koeman is adamant that his Barcelona side will not let their level drop irrespective of whether he is barking orders from the touchline.
He said: “If I'm on the pitch well, because I'm the coach and I like being on the pitch. Otherwise, as in the day of Valencia, it was already well and the 'staff' is good enough to do things and we have been together for a long time.
"My ideas and our ideas are the same and you don't have to go crazy if I can't be there.”
