A Virginia man named Mack Donahue has began a petition on Change.org, calling for soccer followers to boycott the NFL over current officiating.
Donahue is asking for the league to introduce “rigorous referee coaching and accountability mechanisms” in response to suspected favoritism by referees towards the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, which has change into a scorching speaking level for followers this season.
“A rising concern over the inconsistent refereeing, notably evident whereas observing video games involving the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, is tarnishing this lovely sport’s spirit. The aggravation has reached some extent the place many people are considering boycotting not simply the Tremendous Bowl, however all future video games till there may be important change,” Donahue wrote within the petition’s description.
“It is time we took a stand in opposition to unjust refereeing and name on the NFL to introduce rigorous referee coaching and accountability mechanisms that may assure truthful game-play for all groups. By signing this petition, you’re agreeing to affix the boycott and work in the direction of restoring the enjoyment and integrity of NFL video games that we so dearly love.”
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Patrick Mahomes talks to referee Clete Blakeman earlier than the AFC championship recreation in opposition to the Buffalo Payments at GEHA Subject at Arrowhead Stadium Jan. 26, 2025, in Kansas Metropolis, Mo. (Todd Rosenberg/Getty Pictures)
The petition launched over the weekend had lower than 200 signatures on the time of publication. A lot of those that have signed have expressed their help for the petition’s trigger within the feedback.
“This [is an] essential trigger for democracy,” one signer wrote.
“So many performs had been clearly not the suitable name that even the announcer was confused,” one other wrote. This remark could have been referring to a second within the Chiefs’ 32-29 win over the Buffalo Payments when officers dominated that Payments quarterback Josh Allen was stopped in need of a primary down within the fourth quarter. CBS guidelines analyst Gene Steratore mentioned through the broadcast he believed Allen acquired the primary down.
That decision prompted mass backlash from NFL followers on social media, nevertheless it was not the one one.
In the course of the second quarter, officers dominated Chiefs large receiver Xavier Worthy made a catch regardless of video replay exhibiting the ball touching the bottom.
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Referees got here underneath comparable scrutiny through the Chiefs’ divisional spherical playoff win in opposition to the Houston Texans one week earlier when a pair of roughing the passer penalties had been referred to as in opposition to the Texans for hits on Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Houston edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. was referred to as for roughing the passer on a 3rd down within the first quarter. Anderson appeared to push Mahomes within the chest after he had thrown the ball incomplete to tight finish Travis Kelce. Anderson was flagged.
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The second penalty got here throughout a Mahomes scramble within the third quarter. He had two blockers on a run and three defenders bearing down on him. He moved to his proper after which again to his left when he determined to slip.
ESPN broadcaster Troy Aikman criticized the penalty and mentioned it is one thing the league has to handle within the offseason.
Texans gamers and head coach DeMeco Ryans urged after the sport the referees had been in opposition to them as nicely.
Mahomes addressed the difficulty when requested by reporters final Wednesday if he believed referees had been giving him preferential therapy.
Referee Carl Cheffers speaks to Patrick Mahomes throughout a break within the third quarter in opposition to the Houston Texans at GEHA Subject at Arrowhead Stadium Dec. 21, 2024, in Kansas Metropolis, Mo. (David Eulitt/Getty Pictures)
“I do not really feel that approach,” Mahomes answered. “On the finish of the day, the referees are doing their greatest to name the sport as truthful and as correct as they probably can. And all you are able to do is go on the market and play the sport that you just love as exhausting as you may and reside with the outcomes. … I feel that is what we preach right here in Kansas Metropolis.
“You get new referees yearly, you get new circumstances and also you by no means can actually inform as a result of each play’s totally different. And that is what makes the NFL so particular. I really feel like I’ve simply continued to play the sport, and I simply attempt to win. And no matter occurs sort of occurs.'”
Chiefs star tight finish Travis Kelce refused to handle the difficulty when requested by his brother Jason Kelce concerning the officiating throughout an episode of their “New Heights” podcast final week.
“I might prefer to plead the Fifth,” the tight finish mentioned, jokingly referring to his constitutional proper to stay silent, when Jason introduced up the difficulty.
Now the Chiefs get a Tremendous Bowl rematch in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles. When the 2 groups final met within the Tremendous Bowl two years in the past, that recreation was decided by a controversial penalty referred to as late within the recreation in opposition to Eagles cornerback James Bradberry, which arrange the Chiefs for a 38-35 win.
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