Devonshire Cougars should have been ordered to retake a first-half penalty kick against Devonshire Colts during last Sunday?s FA Cup second round clash at the Den, according to FIFA rules that govern the sport.

Cougars were awarded a penalty 15 minutes into their cup tie with Colts after ?keeper Khabir Dill shoved an opponent challenging for a cornerkick to the ground inside the area.

Cougars returning striker Raymond Beach made good his attempt, planting his shot to the right of the ?keeper. However referee Granville Bennett cancelled the goal and instead awarded Colts an indirect free-kick, much to the bewilderment of those in attendance at the Den.

?I witnessed the game but questioned my own knowledge afterwards because I just didn?t know of any rule such as that,? said Devonshire Recreation Club secretary Ellsworth Christopher. ?When he (Bennett) called for a free kick I was absolutely astounded.?

Bennett had ruled that Cougars? captain Kwame Steede had encroached in the box while Beach shaped up to shoot.

According to Law 14 relating to penalty kicks: ?If a team-mate of the player taking the kick enters the penalty area or moves in front of or within ten yards of the penalty mark the referee allows the kick to proceed and if the ball enters the goal, the kick is retaken?.

Instead Cougars were denied their right to retake the kick, thus depriving Beach a first goal since returning to his team?s line up just over a week ago after having a three year Bermuda Council for Drug Free Sport-imposed ban lifted.

Colts coach Ray Jones was also surprised by Bennett?s call which allowed his team off the hook.

?I was very shocked by the decision because as long as I?ve been around the game the penalty should have been retaken,? he said. ?As far as I understand the penalty should have been retaken but my players were telling me the referee said something about a new law. I really don?t know what to say at this time and like I said previously I was very shocked.?

Cougars, 2004 FA Cup finalists, went on to win the dull affair 1-0 when Domico Coddington nodded home ten minutes from time.

Christopher said a decision such as this could have impacted the match in a negative manner.

?The potential for an unpleasant situation to emerge from an incident such as this could have been great,? he added. ?Suppose the game remained scoreless and then something like this took place in the 89th minute? People were absolutely stunned.?

Christopher has now requested Bermuda Referees? Association (BRA) provide his club with a copy of the laws by which referee Bennett based his ultimate decision upon during the match.

?I would like to obtain some form of clarification as to the guidelines available to a club such as mine in a situation like this,? he said. ?I would like to know what rule did the referee refer to and how a team that is aggrieved can address the matter.?

Referee Bennett, who officiated in this season?s Martonmere Cup final, declined to comment when reached yesterday as current BRA regulations prohibit referees from speaking on matters pertaining to football matches.

Acting Bermuda Referee Association president DeRoy Butterfield is currently off Island, while the Bermuda Football Association (BFA) also declined to publicly comment on the issue yesterday.