Sep
CFL dismisses Als protest
Courtesy Vancouver Province:
The Canadian Football League on Wednesday dismissed a protest from the Alouettes concerning an error made by officials in the fourth quarter of last Friday’s game against the B.C. Lions in Vancouver.
The Als were forced to run a play from the Lions’ eight-yard line three three times. Cobourne scored on one of the plays, but the league’s command centre, in conjunction with the stadium supervisor, paged the officials, believing the clock required re-setting.
Once the page was sent the play didn’t count, according to the league. The Als contended the play should stand, since it was run, and dispute any whistle sounded until after the score, which would have reduced their deficit to 19-18, before the convert.
In a statement, commissioner Mark Cohon agreed that “significant” errors occurred, but said that “a mistake, notwithstanding the severe effect it may have upon the outcome of a game, does not provide sufficient grounds for the commissioner to allow the protest and determine a remedy.”
Cohon added that no discipline of the officials is being considered, even though the referree exercised “a lack of judgment, under pressure.”
The Als entertain the Lions Sunday at Molson Stadium.
