Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson finds himself having to explain himself to the Football Association again for criticising referees after his weekend attack on Alan Wiley.
Ferguson claimed the 49-year-old official was unfit after taking charge of his side's 2-2 draw with Sunderland at Old Trafford on Saturday.
The FA have written to the United boss regarding his remarks and the Scot must reply within the week.
Ferguson said of Wiley: "He was also walking up the pitch for the second goal needing a rest. He was not fit enough for a game of that standard.
"The pace of the game demanded a referee who was fit. He was not fit. It is an indictment of our game.
"He was taking 30 seconds to book a player. He was needing a rest. It was ridiculous."
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher - a close friend of Wiley - has leapt to his former colleague's defence.
"In the 17 years the Premier League has been going this is the first time I have ever heard a manger use that criticism of a referee," Gallagher told Sky Sports News.
"I hear all kinds of things and I have never known a manager to say a referee wasn't fit enough.
"With the training they have got now, it's the most ridiculous comment I have ever heard.
"The referees are fit for purpose. They are training four, five, six times a week.
"They are training to an intensity which 10 years ago I would never have believed."
In his official Premier Game Match Officials Ltd profile, Wiley makes a point of highlighting the importance of keeping up with the physical side.
"Firstly, you have to be fit enough to cope with an ever increasing speed of the game," he said.
Ferguson's comments have also been criticised by Alan Leighton, national secretary of Professionals union Prospect - who represent referees.
"My main concern is about the unfounded and totally unwarranted remarks about Alan Wiley's fitness," he said.
"Not only does it dig at the heart of Alan's professionalism, where he is one of our top and longest-serving referees, but it also has an impact on all the others.
"All of the referees, all of the officials and all of the assistant referees pass stringent fitness tests at the start of the season.
"Prozone statistics are used to monitor their performance in every game. If Alan Wiley or any other referee were not fit they would not be refereeing."
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While the FA yesterday decided to seek further clarification of Ferguson's comments, no action will be taken against Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce.
He criticised the standard of officiating after Peter Walton did not give Rovers a penalty in Sunday's 6-2 defeat at Arsenal.
