Marcos Painter has accused referee Peter Walton of swearing when talking to players.

The Albion left-back insists he has no problem with it in isolation.

But he cannot understand how Walton could then send off Mauricio Taricco for using bad language.

Painter, who was close to the scene when Southampton were awarded their hotly contested first penalty on Saturday, said: “The ref spoke to me in that way so it doesn’t make sense. If you send someone off for swearing can you go swearing at players?”

Painter said he spoke to Walton earlier in the match about Southampton players going down easily looking for penalties.

The defender revealed: “He reacted badly, in a way that Tano got sent off for using language you shouldn’t use.

“If Tano got sent off for using language obviously the ref can’t send himself off! But it’s the same situation.”

He added: “Week in, week out in football certain language is used. I’m not complaining about the ref’s language. I just don’t understand if he can send somebody off for that how can he use it as well.”