Uefa has supported Howard Webb's decision to award Austria a controversial injury time penalty in their 1-1 draw with Poland at Euro 2008 yesterday.

The Premier League referee made an instant impact on the tournament and was castigated by Leo Beenhakker, the Poland coach, following the match. However, Uefa have backed the official claiming his decision was correct. Webb and his assistants Darren Cann and Michael Mullarkey, will have to wait until Sunday to hear if they will officiate another game at the tournament. The decision will be made by the referees' committee.

"We don't think it is controversial that a player is pulled down by the shirt and a penalty is given," William Gaillard, Uefa's director of communications, said. "It [Webb's decision] was certainly within the laws of the game."

Poland's public broadcasters, Polskie Radio have quoted president Lech Kaczynski and minister of sport Miroslaw Drzewiecki, both guests at the game, criticising Webb. Drzewiecki is reported to have said: "It's a disgrace for the championships and the referee is a fraud."

While Beenhakker accused Webb of trying to prove he was a "big boy" by awarding the penalty and could face punishment for his comments.

Gaillard added: "The referees' committee analyses all the games and makes the appointments according to its own analyses and we don't interfere with the way they are managing officials in this tournament.

"For sure, there is a better chance to referee the final matches as his national team is not there but that is a statistical chance. I wouldn't speculate about the decisions of our referees' committee."