Team Alberta was unsuccessful in appealing the controversial finish to a semifinal game against Quebec in the Football Canada Cup on July 11.
Alberta believed there were zeros on the clock before a time count violation penalty was called against Quebec. Two plays occurred before Quebec's Tristan Charpentier kicked the winning 32-yard field goal.
In its review, Football Canada said there was 7/10ths of a second remaining on the clock when the official began to pull his flag.
In its review, it was determined the call was made in anticipation of the play clock running out, not as it ran out.
"Our staff conducted a thorough frame-by-frame video review of the appealed play in the Alberta-Quebec semifinal," says Jim Mullin, Football Canada president, in a written statement. "While an error was made, our precedent on judgments regarding on-field calls makes them irreversible."
He admits human error is central to sport and we need to remind ourselves in these moments that we are only as good as we treat others.
Unlike the professional game, when there's a time count violation on the final play it results in a replay of the down.
"There are potential fixes for this in the future through policy and rule changes that is likely of little consolation for Team Alberta at this moment," states Mullin.
"We regret the sequences of events, and sincerely wish Team Alberta the best as they advance to the medal round."
Before the winning kick, Team Alberta looked to have won the game by successfully blocking a 41-yard field goal attempt and recovering the ball. When its players and coaches charged onto the field to celebrate, Alberta received an objectionable conduct penalty that gave Quebec one final chance to kick it through the uprights.
Quebec and Alberta have met in the semifinals for the last seven seasons, with Quebec winning five of them.
Alberta plays Saskatchewan for the bronze medal; Quebec will play Ontario for gold.
Five members of Team Alberta are from the Holy Trinity Academy Knights.