Belfast club Crusaders have sought legal advice in the wake of their Irish Cup semi-final defeat to Larne in a penalty shootout.
The game finished 1-1 at Mourneview Park in Lurgan, Co Armagh and so it went to spot-kicks.
With the sides tied 3-3, Crusaders keeper Jonathan Tuffey saved Andrew Mitchell's effort but referee Shane Andrews - after consulting with his assistant - ruled that Tuffey had come off his line early and the penalty was retaken. Mitchell scored.
Tuffey then denied Josh Robinson but again the ref ruled that he came off his line too early and this time the keeper received a yellow card. Robinson's retake was saved - but, once again, Tuffey was judged to have advanced too soon. He got a second booking and was dismissed.
Full-back Billy Joe Burns went between the sticks but Robinson scored at the third time of asking and Larne progressed to Friday's decider against Linfield.
Crusaders were livid. Manager Stephen Baxter said afterwards: "It's a sad day for football and I can’t tell you the raw emotion I feel for the players because they have been robbed of a cup final. I wanted to take the players off. I walked onto the pitch and said, 'come on off’. Jonny’s absolutely distraught. The team is distraught. This is madness. Our game is an embarrassment here today."
Crusaders later issued a statement which read: "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."
Trevor Moutray, who is the Head of Refereeing at the Irish FA, defended Andrews' decisions, saying the referee had warned both team captains to remind their respective keepers 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."
Watch the controversial conclusion to the penalty shoot-out between Ireland and the Netherlands at the Euro U17 Championships. #RTESoccer pic.twitter.com/Mm8jln24Pr
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) May 15, 2018
Three years ago the Republic of Ireland U17s lost a European Championship quarter-final against the Netherlands in similar circumstances.
Irish keeper Jimmy Corcoran kept out Daishawn Redan's fifth penalty for the Dutch but Czech Republic referee Zbynek Proske deemed that the Cherry Orchard graduate had advanced from his line beforehand and issued him with a yellow card - his second of the match.
Chelsea forward Redan then converted the retaken kick beyond centre-back Oisin McEntee to win it.
The conclusion sparked angry scenes at the end, with then senior Republic of Ireland boss Martin O'Neill confronting the referee as he walked off the pitch.
