Ex-NHL Referee Admits to fixing Calls for Star Players
This is a rumor that has been circulating for several years in the NHL and on social media, but former NHL referee Tim Peel, who has been speaking out for the past few months, has just confirmed it.
Referees are much less strict with star players, and they let several penalties slide.
For example, for the exact same action, Brendan Gallagher would get penalized while Sidney Crosby would not.
We suspected it, but hearing it stated so clearly and bluntly, you can imagine the reaction it's causing.
Some believe this is extremely serious, as it shows that referees are less impartial than we think. However, we also understand the reasoning behind it.
This is an extremely concerning double standard, according to some.
He elaborated:
"For a cross-check to the head, the refs have to call it. The refs are gonna call it. I don't think Hockey Ops says, 'Well, Buffalo's not very good. We shouldn't suspend the other player because they've got a good team and Buffalo's not very good.' I disagree with that."
Are you surprised to hear him say this?
If we look at the Montreal Canadiens, for instance, in light of these comments, we shouldn't be surprised if the referees are less strict with players like Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield (compared to Gallagher, precisely).
Full interview:
| POLL | ||
Do you believe it's right for referees to be less strict with star players? | ||
| Yes | 30 | 8.6 % |
| No | 317 | 91.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
