KHL Referee Banned for Life After Controversial Goal Call, Full Footage Revealed
Photo credit: KHL
There are some leagues where more radical and unusual decisions can be made, and that's exactly what happened in what is probably the second-best league in the world.
As reported by the excellent Samuel Doiron (HABSolumentFan), a surreal story took place in the KHL, where a referee was actually banned for life simply because of a mistake made on the ice during a game.
Basically, the official in question awarded a goal that should never have counted - something many referees have done at some point in their careers.
It's simply human.
A referee has been banned for life from the KHL simply because of a bad call
I can't believe it.
"A KHL ref was BANNED FOR LIFE after initially allowing this goal to stand when the puck entered the goal through a gap in the side of the netting"
- BR Open Ice
- BR Open Ice
"In the 46th minute of the game, defenseman Andrei Pedan's shot failed to cross the goal line. The ice rink video review official, according to procedure, was required to verify the goal during the 60-second pause and only then extinguish the orange light. This official has been permanently banned from officiating KHL games.
The KHL Refereeing Department apologizes to the SKA and Avtomobilist teams, as well as all fans, for this incident." - KHL
The KHL Refereeing Department apologizes to the SKA and Avtomobilist teams, as well as all fans, for this incident." - KHL
Basically, you can see that the puck went into the net through the wrong opening (a hole on the side of the net), and the goal was still awarded by the referee simply because he didn't see it properly - it happened so fast. Anyway!
It's incredible to see the contrast with how Gary Bettman and the National Hockey League treat their referees.
Here, it's almost impossible for players, managers, or coaches to criticize an official without receiving a hefty fine.
The NHL defends its referees no matter what, even after serious mistakes. Over there, a single mistake can cost a referee their job - for life!
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