Kansas City Chiefs’ victory over the Buffalo Bills has been shrouded in controversy.
Andy Reid has spoken out in response to Pat McAfee’s snide remark that the Kansas City Chiefs will be’meeting’ the referee in charge of Super Bowl LIX.
The NFL champions will face the Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans on February 9 in an attempt to win a remarkable third consecutive Super Bowl title.
However, the Chiefs’ path to the biggest sporting event in the United States has been hampered by concerns over referee competence, following a series of blunders highlighted during their 32-29 triumph against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game last Sunday.
Reid was on the Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday, leading up to the game. And the veteran coach was bound to face some tough questions after admitting that his team was ‘fortunate’ to win over the Bills.
Indeed, McAfee jokingly asked Reid if he was ‘meeting’ the appointed referee before the game – seemingly referencing claims from conspiracy theorists that officials have shown favouritism towards the Chiefs.
“You and the refs are meeting like what, tonight, for the Super Bowl? Is that what’s happening?” McAfee said with a sarcastic tone.
But Reid wasn’t interested in entertaining the idea, swiftly replying: “Yeah right.” The three-time Super Bowl-winning coach then added: “I try not to pay attention to any of that stuff.”
The issue has become a hot topic amongst NFL fans, with the Chiefs’ popularity dwindling amongst neutrals after benefitting from the series of calls in their favour.
Bills coach Sean McDermott singled out one important call in which quarterback Josh Allen was denied a first down in the fourth quarter, despite appearing to make it over the yellow line.
Minutes later, the Chiefs went on to score a crucial touchdown after regaining possession of the ball.
But Tavia Hunt, the wife of Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt, denied claims that the Chiefs were only winning games because of fortune with referee calls, pointing to the talent on their roster.
“By God’s grace we’ve had success, but it’s not ‘black magic’ or referee favouritism – it’s lots of hard work, belief, and purpose,” Hunt wrote on Instagram.
“Many of our players – Drew Tranquil, Harrison Butker, Chris Jones, Nick Bolton, Trey Smith and more – openly share their faith, lifting each other up on and off the field…”
The NFL has confirmed that experienced official Ron Torbert would blow the game’s whistle, making his second appearance in the Super Bowl. He will be joined by side judge Boris Cheek, who has appeared four times.
The crew is picked based on an objective evaluation procedure that is determined throughout the season, so only the best officials are chosen to oversee the clash of two NFL heavyweights.
