Not much time has passed since the most exciting NFL game, but fans definitely need more time to get rid of the bad aftertaste. The Chiefs and Eagles showed such an entertaining game that even casual fans were seriously involved in this spectacle. It was a match for the ages that was supposed to end in some kind of iconic moment. And yet, this was not the case. Instead, we saw the Chiefs win based on one of the most controversial refereeing decisions in the history of the sport.
What actually happened?
The teams competed for the most prestigious football trophy at an incredibly high skill level. Coaches were constantly coming up with some special combinations to outsmart opponents. The players left all their strength on the field to achieve immortal sports glory. They fought furiously for the championship throughout the game and were tied at 35 points apiece with 2 minutes left in the match. And it was at this moment that the judges hosting the game decided to become part of history.
When the Chiefs were driving by the field and made it to the red zone, things seemingly started getting a bit dicey for the Eagles. At the same time, Philadelphia put up an incredible defensive scheme and survived. And then in the most crucial moment of the entire game, with less than two minutes remaining, a penalty for holding was called against the Eagles, which lost them the game. So, one single awful call decided the outcome of the Super Bowl at the very end.
What did this lead to?
On the one hand, the fans were disappointed that such an amazing match ended in a referee decision. But what’s more, most NFL enthusiasts immediately started to call out the league for the scripted games and corrupted referees. While the conspiracy theory about matches that go according to some particular scenario is less realistic, referees betting on games they officiate have been featured in the sport many times.
The fact that many fans admit that the Super Bowl could have been rigged deals a massive blow to the NFL’s reputation and the betting companies that do business with it. If the league leadership does not treat such incidents much more seriously, they risk losing the lion’s share of the fans who already doubt the honesty of the games they watch.
Promising solution
To convince the fans that the league cares about fair play, it must consider every moment of this magnitude extremely carefully. Even if watching replays require stopping the game, the NFL should not ignore this measure. Instead, it should provide viewers with dozens of video proofs that they are witnessing a competitive sport and not some orchestrated athletic show. Only such an approach will help the league change public opinion on its allegedly scripted matches.
