The decision by referee Craig Joubert not to use the TMO appears to have denied Scotland a famous quarterfinal win over Australia at the Rugby World Cup.
The South African referee awarded an offside penalty against Scotland in the final minute when the ball bounced forward off the shoulder of Scotland reserve Josh Strauss and was then handled by teammate Jon Welsh.
Bernard Foley slotted the penalty to secure a 35-34 win and booked Australia a semifinal clash with Argentina.
However, replays of the incident look to show that the ball didn't touch Strauss at all and that it came off the arm of Australian reserve halfback Nick Phipps.
If Joubert had gone to the TMO the penalty could have been over-ruled and Scotland would have held a two-point lead with less than a minute to play.
Scottish rugby legend Gavin Hastings has led the criticisms of Joubert.
Hastings tweeted: "If I see referee Craig Joubert again I am going to tell him how disgusted I am. It was disgraceful that he ran off the pitch like that at the end. The referee is not expected to make the right decision al the time. That's what the TMO system is in place for. This is the quarterfinal of a rugby World Cup. This is the highest end of our sport and they have to get these decisions right."
A bitterly disappointed captain Greig Laidlaw said: "They go to the TMO for everything else...why not go for the TMO for that?"
Australian coach Michael Cheika thought it was the right call.
"It's a penalty and that's the way it works," he said.
"It works both ways in all games and that's life. You've still got to kick it once you get it."
Once again, Joubert and Australian No 10 Foley have provided a one-two controversial punch - it was Joubert's call against the the Crusaders Richie McCaw, widely condemned, and Foley's last-gasp goal which saw the Waratahs to a 2014 Super Rugby final victory.
Joubert was also the referee in the 2011 World Cup final, where many felt France were on the wrong side of many decisions in the one point loss to the All Blacks.
Laidlaw questions call
Scottish captain Greig Laidlaw demanded to know why referee Craig Joubert failed to seek the view of the Television Match Official before awarding the penalty that enabled Australia to snatch victory by a single point in their Rugby World Cup quarterfinal.
The South African official made the call for a Scottish offside at a lineout, with just two minutes remaining till the end of the see-saw match.
Amid a deafening chorus of boos around Twickenham stadium, first five-eighth Bernard Foley calmly slotted it between the posts to enable Australia to nose ahead 35-34, a margin they kept till the final whistle.
"They go to the TMO for everything else. It was such a big decision, why didn't they go to the TMO for that?" Laidlaw said after the game, describing himself as "lost for words".
Scotland coach Vern Cotter said: "I need to have another look at it. That was an important decision... I'll have a quiet moment without the emotion and have a good look at it."
Replays showed Australian replacement halfback Nick Phipps appeared to get a touch on the ball before Scotland prop Jon Welsh instinctively grabbed it while in an offside position, an infringement that several pundits said could have been ruled as accidental.
Former Australian great Michael Lynagh said on ITV: "This should have been a TMO decision all day long, I don't understand why he didn't do it."
Former Scotland captain Gavin Hastings said: "If I see referee Craig Joubert again, I am going to tell him how disgusted I am...
"The referee is not expected to make the right decision all the time. That's what the TMO system is in place for. This is the quarterfinal of a Rugby World Cup. This is the highest end of our sport and they have to get these decisions right."
Australian coach Michael Cheika, asked about the incident, said: "It's a penalty and that's the way it works. You've still got to kick it."
