The top of the union representing NFL officers known as allegations that officiating crews are biased in favor of the Kansas City Chiefs or another workforce “insulting and preposterous.”
NFL Referees Affiliation govt director Scott Inexperienced released a statement on Tuesday thanking Commissioner Roger Goodell for dismissing the allegations and responding to “conspiracy theories” on social media about favoritism to the Chiefs.
“Commissioner Goodell’s feedback that it’s ‘ridiculous’ to presume that NFL officers aren’t doing every thing potential to make the fitting name on each play is spot on,” Inexperienced stated. “Officiating crews don’t work the identical workforce greater than twice every common season. It’s insulting and preposterous to listen to conspiracy theories that someway 17 officiating crews consisting of 138 officers are colluding to help one workforce.”
A handful of high-profile calls within the playoffs which have gone in Kansas Metropolis’s favor have fueled the theories of favoritism, with Houston getting penalized for two illegal hits on Patrick Mahomes within the divisional spherical and Josh Allen being dominated simply in need of changing a fourth-and-1 sneak in Kansas Metropolis’s 32-29 victory over Buffalo within the AFC championship sport.
However a deeper have a look at all penalties exhibits no indicators of systematic bias. The Chiefs have been penalized for 120 extra yards than their opponents within the common season and playoffs because the begin of the 2022 playoffs.
Travis Kelce shares what he would ask to media: ‘Why you leaning into the ref factor?’ | Tremendous Bowl LIX Opening Night time
Kansas Metropolis has additionally benefited from 10 fewer first downs by penalty on third or fourth down in that span and has had solely a small edge in penalty-yard differential within the fourth quarter or extra time of shut video games.
“There are lots of issues that followers can fear about over a 17-game season, reminiscent of teaching selections, participant accidents, the climate and, sure, even shut calls on unimaginable performs made by unimaginable athletes,” Inexperienced stated. “However you possibly can relaxation assured that on each single down, NFL officers, each on the sphere and within the replay sales space, are doing every thing humanly potential to officiate each play appropriately.”
Reporting by The Related Press.
Need nice tales delivered proper to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and observe leagues, groups and gamers to obtain a personalised e-newsletter day by day!
Get extra from Nationwide Soccer League Observe your favorites to get details about video games, information and extra