Ahead of the Super Bowl, referees are under intense scrutiny, with fans and experts debating whether the officials favor the Kansas City Chiefs. Troy Aikman, an ESPN broadcaster and Pro Football Hall of Famer, believes the league “owes” it to its fans to address the officiating issues, especially with the amount of money at stake for gamblers.
Aikman, speaking on “SI Media with Jimmy Traina,” acknowledged that the officials have a tough job, but argued that the game has become more controversial due to the league’s partnership with gambling services. He believes that the league should prioritize getting the calls right, especially with the large sums of money changing hands.
The conversation about referees continued after the AFC championship win for the Chiefs, with fans debating calls such as Josh Allen’s failed fourth-down conversion and Xavier Worthy’s reception. Even the wife of Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt, Tavia Hunt, took to social media to address “referee favoritism” ahead of the Super Bowl.
The Super Bowl is still over a week away, but conversations about officiating won’t go away anytime soon. The Chiefs will take on the Philadelphia Eagles on February 9 at 6:30 p.m. ET on FOX, with coverage beginning at 1 p.m. ET. The game will also be streamed live on Tubi for the first time ever.
