Under the game-specific definition of Neutral Zone, the neutral zone is said to be only the gray foam tiles, not the three-dimensional volume. Under the game-specific definition of Offensive Zone, the Long Barrier is not considered to be in either offensize zone. Rule SG10 does not expressely prohibit robots from contacting the long barrier during autonomos, instead relying on the previous two definitions. As a result of this rule, our team interpreted the long barrier as being "fair game" to contact during the autonomous period.
However, at our most recent competition on February 3rd, one of the wings on our robot contacted the opponent's side of the long barrier (not the foam tiles) and automatically lost autonomous as a result. The head referee at the event said that this was a violation of the zone rules that applied during autonomous. Which interpretation of these rules is correct?