Diego Costa has claimed he did not make any derogatory comments towards the referee after he was sent off during Atletico Madrid's 2-0 defeat to Barcelona at the Nou Camp.
Costa was shown a straight red card in the first half after the referee Gil Manzano claimed the ex-Chelsea man had said: "I s*** on your wh*** mother, I s*** on your wh*** mother” to him.
However his manager Diego Simeone said after the match that Costa completely denies any wrongdoing.
Simeone said: "I asked the referee at half-time and he told me Costa had said something wrong, but Costa assures me he did not."
What Gerard Pique said to Diego Costa to calm him down after red card
Simeone complained about what he perceives to be unfair treatment of his side as their title challenge ended with the defeat.
"We have had many red cards, so we must be doing something wrong," he said.
"Other players have said things and not been sent off. This does not excuse what Costa has done. If the referee feels there has been an insult, the dismissal makes sense. But the treatment is not the same for everyone."
Costa's team-mate Jan Oblak also said the forward assured teammates he did not make any 'ugly' comments towards the referee, and it was for that reason he was so furious after the red card was shown, having to be restrained by Barcelona's Gerard Pique.
Why Real Madrid fans hate Gareth Bale as superstar is booed again
The result means Atletico now lie 11 points behind leaders Barcelona, and with no Champions League football after they were knocked out in the last 16 against Juventus their season is effectively over.
They host Celta Vigo next weekend looking for a win that will keep them clear of bitter rivals Real Madrid in second place, with Los Blancos now lying just two points behind in third.
