The decision to give Switzerland a penalty in their 1-0 win over Northern Ireland was "unfathomable" and "horrendous", say Iain Dowie and Gerry Taggart.
Romanian referee Ovidiu Hategan pointed to the spot in the second half when Xherdan Shaqiri's shot hit the top of Corry Evans' arm when the Northern Ireland midfielder had his back turned.
Ricardo Rodriguez converted from the spot to give the Swiss a 1-0 lead going back to Basel on Sunday and Evans was booked to rub salt into the wound, meaning he will miss the second leg.
Speaking on Sky Sports after the game, former Northern Ireland international Dowie said referee Hategan couldn't have seen the incident properly, and said the decision was "ridiculous".
Dowie said: "If there were video referees now, and I have no idea why there isn't because it's so important in the game, 10 out of 10 [video] referees wouldn't have given that penalty.
"He's in a perfect position, his arms are by his side. I thought [referee Hategan] was picky all night, and should have sent [Fabian] Schar off in the opening minutes, and he's got the two big decisions of the game badly, badly, badly wrong.
"How he gives that, in this magnitude of game, at that time, in the position he's in, is unfathomable to me. It's impossible from that position.
"Don't get me wrong, Switzerland were the better team and they had better chances, but don't forget, but how many good saves did Michael McGovern have to make? One.
"They hang in games, Northern Ireland, and they have been let down badly by a horrendous refereeing decision."
Taggart added: "When Corry Evans turns his back, the referee can't see his arm. It's ridiculous. How can he give a penalty if he can't see where the ball is going? You have to give him the benefit of the doubt.
"We were saying before the game that this game could go down to a refereeing decision, it's gone down to two refereeing decisions tonight."
Northern Ireland also felt that Fabian Schar should have been sent off for an early lunge on Stuart Dallas, which eventually forced the midfielder off with injury.
Referee Hategan showed Schar a yellow instead of red, but Dowie and Taggart felt he should have been harsher.
Dowie said: "I think eight out of 10 video referees would send Schar off. The referee's demeanour for the most of the game was picky, petty, he didn't let much go or let the game flow."
Taggart added: "The more I see it. How is he going for the ball? That's like something out of the 1970s or 1980s. That is just so reckless."