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Kewell was given a straight red card when experienced Italian referee Roberto Rosetti, who took charge of the Euro 2008 Final between Spain and Germany, decided that the star striker had deliberately handballed a goal bound shot from Ghana's Jonathan Mensah.

Ghana scored from the resultant penalty in the 25th minute - levelling the match at 1-1 and cancelling out Brett Holman's early strike.

And while the Socceroos hung on for a draw despite playing the rest of the match with 10 men and in the process earned their first point at this World Cup, the result leaves Australia facing a huge task to make it to the second round.

Kewell will now be suspended for the final group game against Serbia in Nelspruit on Wednesday, which the Aussies must win and hope the result of the Ghana-Germany game also goes their way, to make it to the knockout stages.

After the game Verbeek was scathing of the decision to send Kewell off saying there was no way that Kewell had deliberately handled the ball.

"I think we were very unlucky with the red card," Verbeek said. "It was definitely not a red card (and) it wasn't intentional.

"What can you do with your arm (when the ball hits it) - you cannot cut it off."

While the ball did hit Kewell high on the arm rather than on the hand, the referee believed Kewell deliberately moved his arm towards the ball to block the goal bound shot.

"It was a mistake by the referee," Verbeek said. "When I saw the television (replay) the referee could never see what was happening."

Verbeek said the decision was in stark contrast to the leniency showed to two Serbia players who escaped with yellow cards for handling in the penalty box as Kewell did earlier in the tournament.

"If this was a red card what happened in the two times when Serbia handballed the ball - it is no different," he said.

Verbeek said Kewell, who was making his first start for the Socceroos since last November following six months out with a groin injury, was devastated by the incident knowing his World Cup and possibly his international career could now be over if the Socceroos don't qualify for the second round by beating Serbia.

"He has worked hard for six months to get into the World Cup," Verbeek said of Kewell.

"I think a lot of players would not have been able to do what Harry did in the last six months to be ready and then you play in the World Cup and you have to go off after 25 minutes, I think he will be devastated."

  

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