In a game called bizarre by the Northern coach, the match between Northern and Green Island on Monday at Forrester Park went to extra time after the scores were tied 2-2.
Green Islandwon 5-2 as Northern was down to nine men on the field at the end of added time.
The game ended with Northern picking up 12 yellow cards and Green Island one, which was handed out in the final minute of extra time.
Six of the yellow cards turned into red cards as two players and the sideline staff member were each given a second card. The sideline staff member was dismissed after getting into a discussion with a Green Island player.
Football South chief executive Chris Wright said the competitions team at Football South was yet to get full reports about the match.
He said at the moment there was no formal investigation but, after any game, a review would be carried out and there would be some feedback from the referee. He declined to name the referee.
He said Northern might have some questions about the game and might provide some feedback. It was a cup tie with plenty at stake which then went to extra time.
Northern coach Arran Wilkinson said it was not a dirty match.
"It was a very even game in terms of scoreline and combativeness. But to have so many cards given out to one team was bizarre," he said.
He had been in contact with Football South and wanted to give feedback on the match report.
The match was the second in three days for the teams which also played in the southern premiership on Saturday. Players would have been tired and tempers frayed as the game entered extra time.
A Fifa referees assessor from Christchurch saw all the cards handed out.
Each yellow card carries with it a reason why it was given but Wright was yet to see all the reasons. There was also an unsubstantiated report a Green Island striker abused Northern fans after scoring a goal.
Wright said overall there had not been an increase in cards given out this season and this game was very much an "outlier".
In the end, cards were given out because of mistakes made by players and many these instances could be avoided.
Green Island coach Shane Carvell could not be contacted yesterday.
