Free Ball Penalty Confusion?? Please Help

[motorhead]

Just got off the phone to the referee and as suspected it wasn't explained to him correctly, he was of the impression by my mates description that the nominated free ball pink was the closest ball in line with the red tucked behind the yellow/black balls. When I explained to him where the pink was he just laughed and said that for it to be a foul it has to be the snookering ball , nothing to do with escape routes or playing towards and off a cushion...I haven't spoken to the other ref but expect that he was fed the same duff information.

expected outcome.