A federal judge has refused to order the NFL to replay the NFC Championship game, in which the Los Angeles Rams defeated the New Orleans Saints and gained entry to the Super Bowl after a critical missed call by officials.

Judge Susie Morgan said the Saints season-ticket holders who sued had no right to compel the NFL to enforce league rules that could reverse the game’s outcome or force a replay. Morgan ruled on an expedited basis, as the Rams will play the New England Patriots in Sunday’s Super Bowl.

Rams beat Saints in overtime to make Super Bowl after 'missed' call Read more

Many Saints fans say their team lost a chance to clinch a place in the Super Bowl when officials declined to throw a flag in the closing stages of the game, after Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman had clearly hit Saints wide receiver Tommylee Lewis before the ball arrived on a third-and-10 pass.

Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) How is this not a flag??pic.twitter.com/9eux632JpH

Had a penalty been called, the Saints would have been able to run the clock down before kicking a field goal as time expired, which would have won the game. Instead, they were forced to kick a field goal with 1:41 remaining. The Rams were able to tie and force overtime, where Greg Zuerlein’s 57-yard field goal sent them to the Super Bowl.

The NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, told reporters on Wednesday that the league understood fans’ frustration with the “no-call,” and conceded that the controversial play “should have been called.” He also said the NFL may expand instant replay, but that coaches and clubs have historically been “very resistant” to allowing challenges to plays where no penalties were called.