Knights coach Keishon Smith has criticised the decision to award Arsenal their title-winning goal in the Island Soccer League final and questioned the influence of fourth official Anthony Francis.Smith’s side lost the final against Arsenal 6-5 at the National Sports Centre on Sunday.Controversy surrounded Arsenal’s winning goal in the dying stages of the match when two referees made conflicting decisions on a kick-in, which was eventually awarded to Arsenal who went on to score from the ensuing play.In the ISL there are three on-field referees officiating the game.The goal was allowed to stand, allegedly by Francis who Smith believes overruled one of the referee’s decisions to award possession to the Knights.“Congratulations to John Barry and Arsenal and the best team won on the day, but we feel we were robbed with the decision to allow their winning goal after the referees didn’t know what was going on,” said Smith.”Both referees were pointing in opposite directions and no one would step up and talk about it to make a decision. To us this is unfair, and for the fourth official to make the call when he had nothing to do with the play is utter rubbish.“This is the third time (Francis) has been a source of our downfall.”Francis yesterday dismissed Smith’s claim and said the decision was not his to make and that he didn’t influence the decision of either referee.He said: “I wasn’t involved in the game. I can’t comment on this matter. I was the fourth official and the other referees had made that decision.”Last season’s ISL saw Knights knocked out in the play-offs against Apex in controversial circumstances. On that occasion Francis was one of the three referees officiating the match.Smith said he raised his concerns with ISL officials before the final regarding Francis’ involvement as fourth official.“We have had issues like this in the past, and with the same referee, and we were hoping to not have this play out the same way,” Smith said. “This decision took away from an excellent game; it happens too often in local football that referees think they have to play a pivotal part in the match.“We will continue on from this, but it’s a very bitter pill to swallow.”