CFL admits to another officiating mistake in Ticats loss to Esks

For the second time in three weeks, the CFL has acknowledged it blew a crucial call that hurt the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

The most recent controversy involves an onside kick in the late stages of Hamilton’s 29-26 defeat to Edmonton Eskimos on Friday night. With just over a minute to go and the Ticats trailing by three, Hamilton’s Brett Maher tried a short kick that was batted out of bounds by Edmonton receiver Adarius Bowman. Despite the fact that Bowman clearly made contact with the ball, Hamilton was flagged for an illegal kickoff then had a 10-yard objectionable conduct penalty added when head coach Kent Austin and special co-ordinator Jeff Reinebold vehemently protested the call.

The CFL issued a statement on Saturday saying on field officials had, once again, made a mistake.

“There should not have been a flag for (an) illegal kickoff. The ball was legally recovered by Edmonton, ” the statement said. “The ball was placed and scrimmaged from the correct location on the following play.”

Two weeks ago, the CFL admitted that replay officials made a mistake on a fumble call that allowed the Ottawa to retain possession and kick the winning field goal in a 30-29 win.