Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill says skipper Lee Cattermole has to realise he's a marked man.
O'Neill stopped short of claiming that referees are targeting his captain, but admitted his reputation does him few favours with officials.
He said: "What I do think is that his reputation definitely precedes him, and from that viewpoint, the referees are much less lenient with him.
"If you look at [Chelsea defender] David Luiz's challenge, for instance, against Stoke City - there's no doubt that if that had been Lee's challenge, he would have been sent off the pitch.
"He gives us a drive and determination and I look to him for that, that helps immensely.
"He can close players down as effectively as anybody I have known, but he just has to curb this lunging at players.
"I'm not even sure you would have got away with that there 15, 20 years ago. It doesn't really matter, there's a possibility of doing some irreparable damage to other players and you have got to cut that out."