Neil Lennon blasted referee Slavko Vinčić after he sent Jamal Lewis off for time wasting against Switzerland.
Northern Ireland defender Lewis was shown a yellow card in the 36th minute of Saturday's World Cup qualifier in Geneva.
The Newcastle United defender had also been booked earlier in the game for tugging the shirt of Breel Embolo.
Speaking on Sky Sports, former international midfielder Lennon labelled the dismissal as "shambolic".
He added: "The first booking is lazy defending, and then you're walking on a tightrope. I get it. But the second?
"Watch the referee. He is pointing at Jamal, that's fine. But he's not saying 'get a move on'.
"Now he starts walking over, blows the whistle and gives him a second yellow card.
"It's shambolic. I have never seen a player get a second booking for time wasting after 36 minutes in any game of my life. It is an awful decision."
Slovenian referee Vinčić had spoken to Northern Ireland captain Paddy McNair about time wasting in the first half.
Only 17 seconds separated Lewis picking up the ball and the yellow card being shown.
Lennon added: "You see the way the Swiss staff came out and threw the ball at him. (Lewis) I didn't like that, and I wouldn't have liked that as a player. Maybe Jamal has thought 'I'll show you'.
"But he could have thrown it to Conor (Washington), or George Saville. But I still don't get it.
"The referee could come over and say to Jamal, 'you're time wasting, and if you do it again you're off'.
"But he comes over without an explanation and gives him a second yellow card. And no wonder Ian (Baraclough) and Tommy (Johnson) and the boys on the bench are absolutely livid. This is a huge game. A huge game.
"That's three games I've watched Northern Ireland play Switzerland. The play-off game where the Swiss got the penalty, the penalty last time at Windsor Park and now this."
