Wellington Phoenix was left fuming after its 4-2 loss to Sydney in the A-League preliminary final after replays revealed the Sky Blues' second goal was a clear handball.
With the game in the balance at 1-1, Sydney substitute Chris Payne popped up to guide Sung-Hwan Byun's set piece into the goal on the half hour mark to give Sydney a 2-1 lead. Phoenix players protested to the officials but all to no avail.
Wellington coach Ricki Herbert was fuming after the game saying the decision was clearly wrong and he questioned the professionalism of the referees and the morals of the winning side for the goal.
"It's dreadful, I mean c'mon, who's going to apologise for that? At the end of the day it's just not acceptable at this level," he said after the match.
"Irrespective of the result at the end of the day, I think it's poor … for a player to do that."
The fired-up coach also questioned Sydney's morals in accepting a decision that was clearly wrong.
"As a club you've got to consider what your ethics are like. And if you're acceptable of that then so be it," he added.
Sydney coach Vitezslav Lavicka said after the game that Payne revealed later that he unintentionally used his forearm to guide the ball home after stooping for the cross.
Phoenix skipper Andrew Durante was equally adamant about the decision. Being close to Payne during the incident in question, the defender questioned the quality of refereeing in the A-League.
"I was right there, I saw it. I ran straight to the linesman. I knew 100 percent it was hand-ball. The linesman said he didn't see it, the ref said he didn't see it."
"Then I spoke to the ref at half-time and he said it wasn't deliberate so … it's pretty funny that one. It's definitely changed the game. We go in at 1-1 at half-time our confidence would've been high."
"Such a big game, such a big occasion then something like that changes the game. It's very disappointing."
The incident, while not in the same league of importance as the Thierry Henry incident against Ireland in a recent World Cup qualifier for France, highlighted the issue of technology for controversial goal incidents.
Neither Herbert or Durante were willing to speculate on whether technology should be used in the A-League to help adjudicate on crucial decisions.
But a furious Herbert added: "Why wasn't it replayed on the screen? Every other goal was. It just shouldn't happen."