The NFL’s referees have heard enough of fans claiming an unfair number of calls go the Kansas City Chiefs’ way ahead of Sunday’s Super Bowl against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The referee association called fans’ and media members’ claims of a pro-Chiefs bias “insulting and preposterous.”
Fans of all sports are known to cite unfair officiating after their favorite team loses. But social media has become inundated with memes about referees favoring the Chiefs, who are aiming for a third straight Super Bowl victory.
“Officiating crews do not work the same team more than twice each regular season,” Scott Green, executive director of the NFL Referees Association, said Tuesday. “It is insulting and preposterous to claim that somehow 17 officiating crews consisting of 138 officials are colluding to assist one team.”
Fan concerns about officiating have grown during Kansas City’s playoff run, especially regarding personal fouls committed against star quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Those qualms have reached NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who also rejected claims of collusion.
“That’s a ridiculous theory for anyone who might take it seriously,” Goodell said. “But at the end of the day, it’s something we have to continue to work on: How do we make our officiating better at all times?”
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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