This is getting ridiculous.
My hyperbole meter is pegging.
Here are the blunt facts about the right way (in general) to deal with this sort of situation, when it happens:
- The student leader representing the team/alliance that was penalized should have contested the penalty (I assume that one did) by citing a rule that they believed had been violated or applied incorrectly; and by describing the remedial action (allowed by the rules) they wanted the referees to take.
- The referees should have used due diligence to investigate the situation and determine the facts of what happened, as well as recollections allowed.
- The referees should have then announced to the affected teams a decision that took into account the facts they were able to establish, and the rules that applied to those facts. That decision (of course) must satisfy all rules of the competition.
When I am ref'ing and students want to protest a call; if the students do their part of the process I outlined above, I give them a mental +1 for having learned a valuable skill. When students don't do their part, I try to guide them, but some times it gets tough.
When you get to World Championship levels, if you aren't familiar with
all the rules, and with how to register an effective protest, you have done
yourself a grave injustice.
Anyone asking FTC refs (who probably don't even have the authority to cause a rematch - I presume that only the FTA has that authority, but I might be wrong) to cause a replay, because of what they believe was a mistaken penalty call; shot
themselves in the foot.
So far, I haven't read evidence that a proper protest, containing a proper requested-remedy was lodged, and then rejected capriciously. If I was reading
that, I would be upset.
Instead I have been reading about a bunch of other stuff.
So, you can color me grumpy; because, like I said, this is getting ridiculous.
Blake