Refs chief Mike Riley has launched an investigation into Southampton complaints that Mark Clattenburg was "abusing and insulting" towards their captain Adam Lallana.
The Daily Mail says the incident occurred during Saints' defeat at Everton.
Saints have written to the Premier League asking that Clattenburg is not appointed as an official for any of their matches until the investigation is over.
Lallana confronted Clattenburg at Goodison after his cross was met by the hand of Everton defender Antolin Alcaraz. The referee turned down Southampton appeals for a penalty.
According to sources close to the incident, Clattenburg spoke to the player in a manner that is "not what you might expect of one of the game's top officials".
