BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness today protested his innocence after a bust-up with referee Graham Poll.

Souness was banished to the stand after an altercation with Poll during the second half of Saturday's 1-0 win over Tottenham at Ewood.

The fiery Blackburn chief may now be hauled before the FA for the third time in 18 months if Poll decides to include the incident in his report.

"Why should I get a touchline ban?" said Souness.

"I'm not worried about it in the slightest because I've not sworn and I haven't said anything that the referee could deem to be wrong in my eyes."

The flashpoint arose when Poll blew for a foul against Steven Reid in the 49th minute right in front of the dug-out.

Souness said: "When the referee came over I said 'I didn't know you were a Tottenham supporter', he didn't hear it, so I repeated it and he sent me off.

"There was no bad language, no swearing, no argument with him. Dialogue is everything. Wars start if you don't talk.

"That's one of the biggest problems we are faced with in the Premier League.

"In the past, there has been no dialogue between managers, coaches, referees and the guys on the touchline."