Wow. I don't know how you could possibly know that. Referees get games taken away as discipline, and it's a fairly typical disciplinary action. Last year a guy got suspended for failing to see the ball hit the rim. Not even a rule foul-up. Just missed the play. Suspensions happen. And if a first year ref made personal or obscene comments to one of the top coaches in the league, who happens to coach one of the marquee franchises in the league, a one-game suspension would hardly be a surprise.

You might be right that any discipline would be in private, but I think you are a little too sure of it.