Crusaders are seeking legal advice after Tuesday’s Irish Cup semi-final penalty shootout defeat by Larne.
Goalkeeper Jonathan Tuffey was sent off after saving three penalties in the shootout but was adjudged to have moved off his line each time before the ball was struck.
Crues manager Stephen Baxter said the decision to send Tuffey off was a “very, very sad day for football”.
The Irish FA said referee Shane Andrews made the correct decision.
After a 1-1 draw at Mourneview Park and with the score at 3-3 after eight penalties in the shootout, Tuffey saved Andrew Mitchell’s spot-kick but referee Andrews ordered for it to be retaken after consulting with his assistant and the midfielder converted at the second attempt.
Tuffey then saved from defender Josh Robinson and got a yellow card for moving off his line.
Exactly the same thing happened with Robinson’s second go which led to the former Glenavon keeper’s sending off before Robinson scored at the third time of asking past stand-in keeper Billy Joe Burns.
“I’m embarrassed for the game. A game I love,” said Baxter, who also had striker Adam Lecky sent off on 75 minutes for a high tackle.
“To send a goalkeeper off in a penalty shootout at that moment in the game is a very sad day for football. It’s a very, very, very sad day for football.”
Referee actions correct – IFA
Trevor Moutray, head of refereeing at the Irish Football Association, said at the coin toss ahead of the shootout, referee Andrews asked both captains to remind their respective goalkeepers “that when the ball is struck that part of the goalkeeper’s foot must be on the goal line. The match referee also reinforced this message to each goalkeeper before the penalty kick sequence started.”
Moutray added: “Larne scored their first two penalties – but after the second the match referee warned the Crusaders goalkeeper about moving off his line. When he did this on the next penalty, he received a formal warning. He did it again and received a yellow card, and then again which resulted in a second yellow card and a red card.
“Throughout the penalty kicks the match officials accurately and correctly applied the Laws of the Game, and they sought to proactively manage the penalty kicks in an effective way.
“With the balance of hindsight, perhaps the match referee could have issued a last and final public warning to the Crusaders goalkeeper, but it is unclear whether this would have had the desired effect as previous informal and formal warnings had not been effective.”
However Crusaders released a statement later on Tuesday which said the club had “appointed counsel” surrounding the penalty shootout and the decision to send Tuffey off.
“The club will expedite any actions as quickly as possible to minimise any disruption to the Irish Cup final, but it should be noted that Crusaders FC will take whatever action necessary to remedy the current situation,” read a club statement.
“Our actions are in no way directed at our friends at Larne Football Club.
“We owe it to our players, manager and backroom staff, members and supporters to take this action.”
‘This isn’t some game with coats for goals’
Baxter had fumed about the decision post-match and said “when the Larne team come and apologise to you for how you have lost this game, it’s a sad day for football”.
“We’ve watched it back closely, it’s not good. I feel sorry for the players because they were immense.
“We have had to deal with a lot of refereeing decisions today that I am not comfortable with and to see the penalty shootout go the way it did – people need to answer for that.”
Baxter said Tuffey apologised to him for getting sent off but the 55-year-old was adamant his goalkeeper had nothing to say sorry about.
“To be robbed of that (an Irish Cup final) around a decision you have to be so sure of your decision. To do it three times to us it’s not clever and I am embarrassed for the referee fraternity because they will look at it and see it is not good.
“I’m hugely disappointed for myself because they have been robbed of playing in an Irish Cup final. I cannot express how disappointed those players are. There is something seriously wrong with our game.
“Those are career-defining decisions to linesmen and referees. This isn’t some game with coats for goals, this is an Irish Cup semi-final. This will go down in the history books forever.”
Sending off ‘worst moment of my career’
Former Northern Ireland goalkeeper Tuffey, speaking to the BBC after the match, said his sending off was “the worst moment of my career”.
“I should be going home tonight on top of the world because I saved three penalties and we are in an Irish Cup final, and it has been ripped away,” said the 34-year-old.
“Across the board they want to take the advantage away from the goalkeeper. You shouldn’t miss a penalty, it’s 12 yards out and you’re putting it into a massive goal.
“I’m devastated for the lads. It has been a monumental effort all year, from every Irish League player. With the sacrifices they have made and to have the potential chance of an Irish Cup final snatched away from us is heartbreaking.
“I need to be careful what I say. I’m gutted and I’m full of emotion right now.”