Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo has refused to apologise for his comments over referee Lee Mason's performance following the 2-1 Premier League defeat to Burnley on Monday.
The Football Association has sought observations from Nuno after he said Mason 'does not have the quality to whistle a game in the Premier League' and that he did not want to see the Bolton official again.
Nuno, who said he will speaking to the FA about his comments on December 29, said: 'I should apologise the timing of my comments.
'They were not in the best moment to come across because it could be a bad interpretation. I won't apologise for my words and thoughts.'
Nuno insisted he had never questioned the integrity of referees during his managerial career.
He said: 'I never ever judge or question the integrity of a referee. I never did it and I will never do it in my life.
'What I said was about the ability of the referee, what I felt and what I saw in the previous matches.
'The Premier League is the best competition in the world - the only thing missing is the fans - and we expect high levels of performance and high standards.
'As managers and players what we expect is from the referees to be confident, maintain their authority on the pitch, to control the players and to handle the game.'
After their defeat at Turf Moor, Nuno said Mason did not have the quality to referee games in the Premier League and outlined his hope that he would not officiate any more of their games.
He said: 'The referee does not have the quality to whistle a game in the Premier League.
'This is a problem that we knew - we had Lee Mason before.
'It is not about the crucial mistakes or decisions, it is about the way he handles the game.
'The players get nervous, too much voices, he whistles by the voices when some players are shouting.
'We are talking about the best competition and clearly he doesn't have the quality to whistle the game. I'm very disappointed to say this but I would not feel right if I didn't say it.
'I just don't want to see him more - that's what I told him. I hope he doesn't whistle a game of ours again because all the games we have with Lee Mason are always the same.
'He cannot control the players, the players are constantly arguing - both teams. With all the other referees the game flows, there's dialogue. He's just not ready to do it.'