In trying to atone for a gross error by Rio Ferdinand, Robert Green only succeeded in upending Artem Milevskiy inside the penalty area.

Slovenian official Damir Skomina had no hesitation in awarding the penalty but then created complete confusion by brandishing the red card in Ferdinand's face.

Although Skomina claimed afterwards it was always his intention to condemn Green to the ignominy of becoming the first goalkeeper to be sent off in England history, Capello told a different story.

Unable to believe what was happening, Capello remonstrated with the fourth official, who urged the England coach to remain calm until he had a chance to instruct Skomina what had happened.

Given Capello and Darko Ceferin had roughly the same view 60 yards away by the touchline, the Italian questioned whether Skomina could give any decision on the basis of getting the identity of two players, facing different directions, and doing different things, so badly wrong.

"Rio was running and was two metres behind the ball," fumed Capello. "The keeper was diving. That is a big difference.

"I don't like to speak about referees. I never speak about them. But this time the mistake is too big.

"The problem is, what did he see? Explain. This is the question."

Even so long after the 15th-minute incident, Capello pursued Skomina after the final whistle to vent his frustration in his native tongue.

For a man normally so calm under pressure, it was a rare show of anger, resulting in a visit to the FIFA delegate's room by a senior member of the FA hierarchy.

"It was a yellow card, 100%" argued Capello. "But the big mistake is from the referee because he decided the red card was for Rio.

"I spoke with the fourth official. He said 'don't worry'. I am sure about what happened."

There was some conjecture afterwards whether Ceferin should have got involved at all.

However, in law, fourth officials are allowed to act in cases of mistaken identity, unlike the 2006 World Cup final, when Zinedine Zidane was sent off for butting Marco Materazzi, an incident the referee appeared to completely miss.

"It is good," said Capello, when quizzed about the fourth official's involvement.