East says he believed both Brown and John O'Shea made contact with Radamel Falcao in the incident that resulted in a penalty in the Premier League clash at Old Trafford on Saturday.
East pointed to the spot in the second half after Falcao appeared to be felled by O'Shea, although Brown was in close proximity as well.
Replays showed O'Shea pulled Falcao back just as he was about to shoot, and Brown came around to challenge the Colombian.
O'Shea pleaded with East to send him off instead, but Brown walked.
A statement from the PGMOL read: “From his position Roger East, the match referee, believed he saw contact from John O’Shea and Wes Brown on Radamel Falcao.
"As he thought Brown made a foul on Falcao while he was in the act of shooting, he dismissed Brown. After the incident, the match referee consulted with his team of officials but none were better placed to offer guidance.”
United went on to win 2-0 and East's decision occurred on the same day that football's rule-makers ruled out the imminent use of video technology.
United manager Louis van Gaal said after the game: "The (Sunderland) players protested more because they felt the wrong player was sent off. That's a mistake. You make mistakes as well, and so do I. It can happen."
Wayne Rooney converted the subsequent penalty, ending his eight-game spell without a league goal.
The United captain scored again from close range in the 85th as the hosts temporarily leapfrogged Arsenal into third place in the table.
Rooney admitted he thought East had got the penalty decision wrong.
He told Sky Sports News HQ: "I don’t think it was Wes – it looked like 'Sheasy' so the referee has got it wrong and I’m sure they will look at that and rescind Wes’ red card."
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