Collingwood star Dan Houston paid a 50-metre penalty for dissent when he pointed to the screen after teammate Jeremy Howe’s sling tackle against Carlton.
The Pies claimed a thrilling 88-83 victory over their bitter rivals at the MCG on Thursday evening as they roared back from 41-27 down to pile more misery on the Blues.
But it was Collingwood that were raging when things appeared to be going against them earlier in the evening.
Key defender Howe, 35, was penalised for a sling tackle on Matthew Carroll which commentator David King described as “a dangerous one”.
A replay of the tackle then played inside the G, before the umpire suddenly awarded a 50m penalty goal for dissent.
Ex-AFL star Cameron Mooney, who was on the boundary, said: “Somebody pointed to the scoreboard apparently.”
A replay showed that was the case, with Houston pointing just metres away from the umpire.
Howe was furious at getting marched and could be seen saying: “Are you f***ing kidding me?”
The decision comes in the wake of Port Adelaide’s Zak Butters getting paid a 50m penalty and being reported by umpire Nick Foot on Sunday.
Butters was charged after Foot alleged he said: “How much are they paying you?”
An AFL tribunal upheld the decision on Tuesday.
And, as Port Adelaide appeal the charge, ex-Hawthorn man Jordan Lewis suggested the Butters saga may have played into the decision against Collingwood.
He said: “I just wondered whether we were going to tighten up on dissent this weekend.
“The tackle was really lucky. He didn’t hit his head initially. It certainly went down I think by his own accord late.
“Just the point there… wow.”
Meanwhile, fans on social media were divided on the decision to penalise Houston.
Ray Jaffe said: “Game’s gone… Love my footy, watch NRL now for the toughness.”
But Luke Northcote reacted: “Should put him on report for pointing.”
While Chad Leverington added: “Both correct decisions.”
Victory for the Pies is their third of the season and takes them up to ninth, while Carlton languish in 16th after a fourth defeat in a row.
