Article content

The CFL admits it blew a call that went against the Ottawa Redblacks with three minutes left in a 21-16 loss to the Edmonton Eskimos Sept. 28 at TD Place.

Darren Hackwood, the CFL’s senior director of officiating, said Wednesday a 17-yard touchdown catch by Eskimos receiver Tevaun Smith near the back of the end zone should have been ruled an incompletion on the field or when it then went to the CFL Command Centre for a review. The game was tied 14-14 before the touchdown. After each game, the CFL issues its Clear and Obvious Report to each of the teams, with the Command Centre decisions and the league’s grading on those decisions. The league wants to be transparent with the teams and seeks feedback.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or CFL ADMITS MISTAKE: Esks' game-winning TD against Redblacks shouldn't have counted Back to video

“When that report (from the Eskimos-Redblacks game) went out to the clubs, it shows we graded that call incorrect,” said Hackwood. “We should have ruled it an incomplete pass on the field, but we also should have overturned it from the Command Centre. (The on-field officials) are supposed to err on the side of a catch. So if they’re in doubt, they’ll rule catch. It is a close play, it’s quick and it’s a tough call. But that ball is not secured on the ground. We use the phrase that the receiver used the ground to gain complete control. So we view it as an incomplete pass.