The accusation follows Tonga’s controversial loss to England in Saturday’s World Cup semi-final.

Tonga were trailing 20-0 in the final ten minutes before three quick tries had them within reach of an epic victory.

In the final seconds, Tonga forward Andrew Fifita looked to have had the ball stripped by an England player before regathering and scoring a try.

Cecchin ruled Fifita knocked the ball on and did not send the play to the video referee for review.

Commentator Phil Gifford said Cecchin's decision not to review the try had ''racist elements'' in a startling swipe at the adjudicator's integrity.

"I do think it's incredibly insulting and demeaning and arrogant of the referee to not go to the television match official," Gifford said on TVNZ 1's Breakfast Show.

​Kiwi TV commentator and sports writer Phil Gifford with former Bulldogs CEO Raelene Castle​.

"Earlier in the game he did it on several occasions and I'll guarantee that if it had not been Tonga - if it had been Australia playing England - he would have gone to the (TMO).

"I also hate to say it, but I honestly believe - and I'm sure the referee is a good bloke and he would be horrified at the suggestion that there's a racial element to it - but I think that there's an unconscious racist element to it as well.

"Here's this Pasifika team, they're all Pasifika players obviously, and somehow or another ... I don't think they were taken seriously enough.

"That's a hell of a football team with some of the best rugby league players in the world and they are up there on the world stage and they were good enough to have won that game."

Head of referees Tony Archer defended Cecchin’s on-field decision.

“The decision is correct for me and that is he’s affecting a tackle and there was no indicator he was stealing the ball,” he said.

“It’s a loose carry, knock on, the referee called it on field.

“There needs to be a deliberate intention to steal the ball, he’s affecting the tackle as his arm slides down the attacker’s arm.”