Harry Redknapp branded the decision to allow Nani's goal in Tottenham's 2-0 defeat at Manchester United as "farcical" and "scandalous".
Spurs were perhaps unfortunate to be trailing following Nemanja Vidic's 31st-minute header after an end-to-end first half but their hopes of a late leveller were dashed when Nani netted in controversial circumstances five minutes from time.
The winger had a penalty appeal turned down after bursting into the Tottenham box and was seen handling the ball while on lying on the turf.
But while goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes lined up what he believed to be a free-kick, the United man stole in front of the Brazilian and prodded into a vacant net.
A lengthy discussion between referee Mark Clattenburg and linesman Simon Beck followed, with the official later awarding the goal having never blown for a free-kick.
A seething Redknapp said: "What a farcical way to finish a game. It's a handball, he's deliberately handled it and it should have been a booking.
"Everyone has seen him do it so we think it's a free-kick, it's just the referee that doesn't see it.
"Everyone saw him do it so it's a free-kick. You can't lie on the floor and pull the ball back just because you've got the hump because you didn't get a penalty.
"It was a scandalous decision and the referee has made a mess of it all."
Clattenburg was famously the referee who refused to allow Pedro Mendes' 'goal' against United in 2005 - an incident which saw Roy Carroll claw the ball back into play from well over the goal-line.
Redknapp said he rated Clattenburg as a referee despite what he deemed a catastrophic error, but may still find his incendiary comments scrutinised by the Football Association.
Asked if he had question the officials about the decision, he continued: "It's farcical, but what can you do? It's gone now.
"In the end he'll come up with some excuse as to why he didn't see it - he couldn't see, he let play go on - well if he did that he should have been saying to Gomes 'play on, play on'.
"I haven't spoken to the referee, he's not going to change his decision and he's made a mess of it all now anyway.
"They'll go in and come up with a story that will make it all look right, that's what happens."
Redknapp's woes were exaggerated by a hamstring injury to Rafael van der Vaart late on and, with Inter Milan waiting in the Champions League on Tuesday, the Spurs chief admitted it was a "big problem".
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson did not see Nani's goal unfold at the time but was content with the explanations he heard afterwards, instead choosing to query Gomes' role.
"It was bizarre. No-one knew at the time what was wrong. One minute the goalkeeper had the ball in his hands and next it's in his net," Ferguson told ESPN.
"Nani looked back and looked at the referee and the referee said play on, so what can he do but put the ball in the net?
"You can look at the referee and look at the linesmen and blame them, but the goalkeeper should know better. He's an experienced goalkeeper. I thought he made a mess of it."
With Chelsea also victorious today, United remain five points off top spot in the Premier League despite being unbeaten.
Yet Ferguson is content with how things are shaping up.
He told MUTV: "It's a long road to go yet, I think the result last week at Stoke has lifted all the spirits of the team.
"Today we've played some good football, particularly in the second half, and we've beaten a team that is very, very good.
"They are strong and you would expect as the season goes on and they play against the other top teams that they will give them a little bit of trouble."
