Longtime referee Andre Proulx admitted what fans already knew: The CFL replay center, formerly known as the team center, doesn't always get things right.
The most egregious recent example occurred last week regular season game between the Edmonton Elks and Calgary Stampeders. In the second quarter, Elks running back Justin Rankin apparently scored a touchdown, but the play was reviewed and showed that he fumbled the ball at the one-yard line. The Stampeders defender picked up the ball in the end zone long after the whistle had sounded for a touchdown, and the team center decided to give the ball to Calgary at its own 30-yard line.
At a press conference in French ahead of the 112th Gray Cup, Proulx admitted it was the wrong choice.
“Sometimes there are times when I disagree with the command center,” he said. “We had a situation where the ball was fumbled, but the officials called it for a touchdown. The player who fumbled the ball (Rankin) didn't make a full effort to return it because he saw the officials' hands in the air. The only player who jumped on the ball was a Stampeders player. The replay showed there was a fumble, but by the rules, since everyone stopped playing, the touchdown call should have stood. If it had happened in the middle of the field, everyone would have continued to play. In this case, everyone would have continued to play. that didn't happen.”
In such situations, the final word does not rest with the head judge. In this case, Proulx saw the play and felt the decision was wrong. He admitted that he should have spoken out at that moment.
“I told myself, 'They should know the rules just like I do.' Looking back, I should have spoken out, but I didn’t,” he said. “It wasn't that long ago that we couldn't criticize the command center, so at that point I told myself that they probably saw something that I didn't see. But big screen reviews still exist.”
Proulx stressed that football refereeing is not an easy job. There are a few steps you need to take before you move on to the professional level. He is proud of the work he and his fellow CFL referees do every game of the season as they compete for the honor of officiating the Gray Cup.
“Nobody knows this, but there are 140 games in every game and we are judged on each one,” he said. “We're probably our best critics. We don't hide when we make mistakes; we know it's on tape. The most important thing is not to make too many mistakes.”
“Every time you answer the phone, someone is listening to see if I’m saying the right thing.” Kevin Riopelle, Gray Cup side judge, added. “It's not just one person who evaluates us. The coaches also look at the tapes and give feedback.”
CFL Commissioner Stuart Johnston stated that The replay center mandate will be one of the issues considered at the league's winter meetings in January.. Perhaps those in the booth will finally be held accountable in the same way as those who hear the jeers of fans on the field.
