#WhatAboutKaren? Bad CFL officiating costs woman a million dollars

Crappy CFL officiating just cost Karen Kuldys of Winnipeg a million dollars.

Kuldys is the contestant in Safeway’s Touchdown to Win contest – which pays $1 million if two kickoffs are returned for touchdowns in the same game – and looked have the money in her pocket after Bomber Ryan Lankford took the opening kickoff 105 yards for a score and Argonaut Martese Jackson followed that up with another one late in the second quarter. But just as Jackson crossed the goal line after 109 yards, out came a penalty flag.

The call was an illegal block on Llevi Noel, No. 84 in the GIF above, who is run into by Winnipeg’s Mike Miller (No. 24.) Miller promptly falls down and draws a flag. Jackson, meanwhile, is already well past Miller and on his way to the end zone.

Reaction on the broadcast was swift and critical.

“Oh, they called that,” said TSN play-by-play man Chris Cuthbert.

Colour man Glen Suitor went back and reviewed the play.

“Miller is just going to kind of fall forward and that’s where common sense comes in,” Sutior said. “That wasn’t a block attempt. It wasn’t a block in the back, it was a player falling in front of him.”

The TSN panel echoed those sentiments at halftime.

“Do not ruin the game of football by throwing that flag,” said Jock Climie.

Former Bomber Milt Stegall had a good line.

“Karen went out there and bought a Lamborghini. The money was spent.

“What about Karen?”

That phrase is now, as of 10:30 p.m. EST, trending on Twitter and CBC reporter Devin Heroux says he’s spoken with the almost-millionaire.

I’m on the phone with Karen right now. She started by saying “I’m sick to my stomach. What a horrible call” More to come. #CFL

— Devin Heroux (@Devin_Heroux) July 14, 2017

“I’m going to watch the rest of the game and hopefully it happens again. I can’t believe this is happening,” says Karen. #CFL

— Devin Heroux (@Devin_Heroux) July 14, 2017

I’m taking to Karen’s husband Stan now. He’s not happy. “I should contact the CFL office about this.”

— Devin Heroux (@Devin_Heroux) July 14, 2017

For the record, Karen doesn’t have a cell phone or any clue how Twitter works. She just told me that.

— Devin Heroux (@Devin_Heroux) July 14, 2017

“My heart just sank and I thought oh my god how close could I get to one million dollars.” – Karen Kuldys. Full story coming.

— Devin Heroux (@Devin_Heroux) July 14, 2017