Wellington Phoenix general manager David Dome claims the A-League referees boss has admitted Alex Rufer shouldn't have been sent off in their 1-1 draw with Macarthur FC.
The Phoenix were left fuming, after their vice-captain was red-carded for a second-half challenge on Macarthur's Denis Genreau at Campbelltown Stadium.
Rufer won the ball clean, but then caught Genreau with his right foot following through.
Referee Stephen Lucas booked Rufer, but after consultation with the video official, he changed his decision and produced a red card.
Fox Sports commentator Robbie Slater was flabbergasted by the contentious call - the ex-Socceroo labelled it a "very, very poor decision".
Dome says the league referees boss confirmed to him that Rufer's dismissal was wrong on two counts.
"He's admitted they got it wrong in MACvWEL twice - in being referred to the VAR and again for the red," Dome tweets.
"But the appeal is completely different and is a much higher threshold. Am waiting on ref report and probably MRP [match review panel]."
Given a straight red card for violent conduct, Rufer faces the prospect of a three-match ban.
Dome says if such a sanction is imposed, an appeal would be heavily considered.
"Would be extremely disappointed if it was three weeks," he tweets.
"Would def [sic] look at appealing anything like that."
