Just hours after Craig Joubert was spotted running from the field at the conclusion of Australia and Scotland’s controversial World Cup quarter final, a petition has surfaced aiming to have the referee banned from entering Scotland for life.

Joubert handed winger Sean Maitland a harsh yellow card early in the second half, before awarding Australia a match-winning penalty on the stroke of full time without consulting the TMO.

Former players, celebrities and even politicians used social media to voice their opinions in the hours after the match.

Scotland legend Doddie Weir tweeted: “#RWC2015 sad to say referee cost #Scotland.”

Ex-international Kenny Logan posted a video with alongside the tweet: “Why inept Joubert should never ref at this level again. #SCO you are all heroes! #AUSvSCO #RWC2015”

England World Cup winner Matt Dawson posted: “Craig Joubert you are a disgrace and should never referee again!! How dare you sprint off the pitch after that decision!!! #RWC2015”

Much of the criticism centred on Joubert’s failure to call for a video replay but according to the laws of the game he was not allowed to.

England legend Lawrence Dallaglio called for that rule to be scrapped.

He tweeted: “The referee protocol suggests that the TMO is not in place for decisions like that last penalty!! To hell with protocol when it’s so crucial”

Comedian John Bishop posted: “Gutted for Scotland- one terrible referee decision changed that game. What a match-obviously as I am in Oz I will support them now #turncoat.”

Game of Thrones actor Daniel Portman tweeted: “Well, I won’t often say this, but Scotland were 100% the better team and the referee 100% cheated us out of that. Many bad calls. Disgrace.”

And Midlothian MP Owen Thompson posted: “Referee was total disgrace, but Scotland you did us proud #backingtheblue #SCOvAUS”

The online petition simply states: “Petition to have a lifetime ban imposed upon referee Craig Joubert after his s***e decisions put Scotland out of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.”