Lippi criticised the referee for missing an alleged hand-ball in the box in the first half that would've given the reigning champions an early penalty as well as another foul by Daniel Mullen that he believes should have warranted a second yellow-card. Mohamed awarded Evergrande the foul but gave Mullen a talking-to rather than a dismissal.

Marcello Lippi has to be held back after his side received their second red card. Credit:Brendan Esposito

"To be honest the first was a little bit far away but the second [red card] was really close to me so I saw it. I also saw that in the during of the match number 33 [Mullen] had to go for a second yellow card.... But I don't know why the referee didn't see this. Also in the first half we had a good chance to score and there was a handball in the opening and also the referee didn't see it," Lippi said.

"I've been in every competition in the world - the World Cup, European Champions League, Club World Championships - everything. I know it's wrong to go on the field, but at the first moment I just wanted to ask the referee why - But he talked to me like a child - I also tried to apologised to the ref, I knocked on the door [after the game] and I tried to say it wasn't in protest, I wanted information on this."

Lippi was critical of the Wanderers new Brazilian playmaker, Vitor Saba, who he accused of diving. Lippi was seen to have grabbed hold of Saba during a chaotic on-field protest involving the entire Guangzhou Evergrande bench.