Ben King awarded contentious goal after score review against Crows

The AFL’s controversial score review system was back in the spotlight on Saturday with fans fuming over a contentious decision.

Ben King kicks controversial goal

The Gold Coast Suns were lucky to only be down by 28 points at halftime against Adelaide on Saturday.

In front of a raucous Adelaide crowd, the Crows put on a show in the opening half as they kicked the opening six goals of the contest.

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Controversy then took over halfway through the quarter with the Suns claiming their second goal of the match with the help of the score review system.

A ball deep inside the Suns forward line found the deck in the goalsquare where Ben King seized the opportunity and soccered the ball over the line.

Crows ruckman Reilly O’Brien dived to stop the attempt and looked to have landed a finger on the ball.

The goal was sent upstairs for review with the goal umpire believing it was a goal.

After several minutes and a few different angles, the umpire reviewing the footage wasn’t able to determine if O’Brien had got a touch on the ball with the inconclusive footage meaning the on field call would stand.

Ben King has World Cup fever âš½#AFLCrowsSunspic.twitter.com/gxGJhgWDpa

— AFL (@AFL) August 5, 2023

The goal in the end mattered little as the Crows held on to secure the 13.11 (89) to 9.7 (61) win and keep their finals hopes alive.

Fans watching on however couldn’t quite believe the decision wasn’t overturned and given a behind after watching the replays.

One wrote: “Not sure how that wasn’t called touched, could see his fingers move as the ball went past”

Another added: “Shambles of a “professional” league. Inconclusive every score review!”

A third posted: “Ben King knew that was touched.”

Ben King kicks for goal. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The win pushes the Crows into ninth place on the ladder for the time being, two points outside of the top eight behind Carlton.

They’ll finish their season with games against Brisbane, Sydney and West Coast — contests they’ll have to win if they’re any chance of competing in September.

For the Suns, it’s highly unlikely they’ll be breaking their finals drought this season as they sit six points outside the top eight.

Their day was made even worse in the final term when star youngster Will Powell was carted off the ground having suffered a potential broken leg.

Originally published as Ben King awarded contentious goal after score review against Crows