American football: Players and fans outraged as ropey refs decide Packers game

Published on 26/09/2012 02:59

NFL FANS took to the airwaves, social media and the streets on yesterday to vent their anger over a controversial refereeing decision which handed the Seattle Seahawks home victory over the Green Bay Packers.

The NFL is using replacement referees from the lower ranks of college and semi-professional American football during a lockout of regular officials caused by a dispute over a new contract. The replacements have been criticised in the first three weeks of the season for indecisive and confusing calls but unprecedented levels of frustration spilled over after Monday’s game.

Trailing 12-7 with just seconds left, the Seahawks were facing a fourth down on the Packers’ 24-yard line and rookie quarterback Russell Wilson heaved a “Hail Mary” pass into the endzone. Seahawks receiver Golden Tate appeared to commit a clear foul by pushing Packers defender Sam Shields. Green Bay’s M D Jennings then appeared to have caught the ball for what would have been a game-ending interception. Tate, however, grabbed at the ball and, as the two fell to the ground, two officials made different calls – one ruled a touchdown and the other an interception. A video review upheld the ruling on the field of a touchdown by 
simultaneous catch.

The Packers players fired off protests on Twitter with wide receiver Greg Jennings tweeting: “NFL C’mon Man! Can’t even be upset anymore. All I can do is laugh. Laugh at the NFL for 
allowing America’s game to come [to] this”.

Fans flooded sports radio stations to protest and the Wisconsin media backed them. “Grand Larceny” declared the Oshkosh Northwestern.

Yesterday, some Packers fans gathered outside their stadium to protest while passing drivers hooted in support of placards declaring “We Were Robbed” and “Speechless in Seattle”.

Politicians also got involved with New Jersey state Senate President Stephen Sweeney saying he plans to introduce a law prohibiting professional sporting events with replacement officials. Wisconsin Republican Governor Scott Walker called via Twitter for the locked-out referees to be brought back.