Mark Hughes told Jose Mourinho to “f*** off” after shoving the Manchester United manager during a touchline row.
The bust-up happened when Stoke manager Hughes got annoyed at Mourinho entering his technical area when they squabbled over a foul.
And sources say Hughes then encouraged referee Neil Swarbrick to send the United boss to the Bet365 Stands.
The spat so angered Mourinho that he made a point of shaking the hand of every member of the Stoke staff except Hughes at the final whistle.
Stoke boss Hughes later accused Mourinho of being a sore loser after seeing his team’s 100 per cent record go as two goals by Eric Choupo-Moting earned Stoke a 2-2 draw.
He blamed the United boss for the row, saying: “I think I pushed him because he was in my technical area. I don’t know why he didn’t shake hands afterwards, maybe that’s why.
“Maybe it was because it has to be viewed as a negative result for him, coming to Stoke when everybody expects them to beat us.
“Sometimes mangers of top six clubs don’t take negative results kindly. Sometimes that is because they are not used to it, and maybe they react in the wrong way.
“Maybe he reacted in the wrong way on this occasion. Or maybe it’s me. I have got a history with handshakes!”
But a source said: "Jose wanted to reorganise his defence after a foul and Hughes pushed him as he walked over and told Jose to f*** off. He also asked the referee to send Jose to the stands. In the end Jose just walked away because he doesn't shake hands after being insulted."
Mourinho, who claimed Stoke had only wanted a draw, tried to play down the incident.
He said: “There’s no issue. I prefer not to answer questions about handshakes - it’s a bad question. It makes it look like it’s my fault but that’s not right.”
United stayed top of the table but only on goal difference from Manchester City, but the United boss refused to blame Phil Jones even though former Old Trafford stars Rio Ferdinand and Michael Owen had him at fault for both of Stoke’s goals.
Ferdinand accused Jones of gambling by failing to cover the near post for the first while Owen wanted to know why he fell over before the giant Cameroon international got the second.
But Mourinho revealed he didn’t even speak to his centre-half about them after the game.
He said: “It is not a moment to speak, he knows the mistake. He doesn’t need me to go and speak to him about it.
“Mistakes are part of the game, Phil has been playing well for us, so no problem.
“He is probably tired with two consecutive matches for the national team, but he cannot play in the Champions League on Tuesday because he is suspended so he gets some rest and there is an opportunity for Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof to play.”