ADVERTISEMENT

OT: NFL fires official for missed call during Browns/Chargers game

sooner_mike1

Sooner starter
Jan 31, 2010
18,453
44,049
113
I wish to hell that NCAA refs would get the same wake up call.

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/nfl-...super-bowl-eras-first-midseason-firing-report

Published 7 hours ago
NFL sacks game official in Super Bowl era’s first midseason firing: report
By Stephen Sorace |

Oficial Hugo Cruz missed a false start call in the Chargers-Browns game. Los Angeles was able to get a touchdown off the botched officiating.

The NFL fired down judge Hugo Cruz on Thursday, marking the league’s first in-season dismissal for poor officiating during the Super Bowl era, a report said.

Two sources familiar with the firing spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the NFL has yet to officially announce the move.


Cruz, a part of referee Carl Cheffers' crew, missed a high-profile call in the Chargers-Browns game that led to a Los Angeles touchdown on Oct. 14. Chargers tackle Russell Okung made a glaring false start on the play and nothing was called. Cruz did not work the following week.

Football Zebras exclusive: Down judge Hugo Cruz, who missed a clear false start in Week 6, has been fired by the NFL. This is the first midseason firing in the Super Bowl era. http://refs.ws/m1

11:57 AM - Oct 25, 2018

NFL fires down judge Hugo Cruz
In a stunning move, the NFL has fired down judge Hugo Cruz, number 94, effective immediately, according to 6 sources with firsthand knowledge of the situation.



In his fourth season as an NFL official after first joining in 2015, Cruz was supposedly fired for his overall performance, not just one specific play. There wasn’t any indication Cruz committed an off-field offense or was facing disciplinary action, ESPN reported.

The NFL Referees Association said it would challenge the firing.

"The NFL has a troubling history of knee-jerk reactions with an eye on public relations, and clearly it has not learned from past mistakes," NFLRA Executive Director Scott Green, a former referee, said in a statement. "The NFLRA will protect the collectively bargained rights of all officials and will challenge this reckless decision through the grievance process."

Cruz's firing was first reported by FootballZebras.com, a website dedicated to officiating which said it's the first in-season firing by the league of an official because of performance in the Super Bowl era.

The NFL has 121 officials and 17 officiating crews. Not all officials work each week, so the surplus number could see Cruz’s spot on the crew easily filled.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Barrow4
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Go Big.
Get Premium.

Join Rivals to access this premium section.

  • Say your piece in exclusive fan communities.
  • Unlock Premium news from the largest network of experts.
  • Dominate with stats, athlete data, Rivals250 rankings, and more.
Log in or subscribe today Go Back