Ex-NFL referee boss makes startling conspiracy admission amid Kansas City Chiefs controversies
WATCH NOW: Aidan Magee discusses the latest sport headlines 31 January 2025
Former NFL head of referees Dean Blandino has made a startling revelation that his own brother believes the league is rigged and thinks Blandino signed a non-disclosure agreement to keep quiet about it.
Speaking on the DA show on Sirius, Blandino disclosed: "My brother, who is convinced the league is rigged, that is convinced that I signed an NDA when I left the league office that I cannot tell anybody that it's rigged because I was head of officiating."
"We grew up in the same household, by the way," he added, highlighting the ironic nature of their opposing views.
The revelation comes amid widespread controversy over officiating in the Kansas City Chiefs' path to the Super Bowl.
Kansas City Chiefs are gunning for their third Super Bowl title in a row
Reuters
The Chiefs have faced accusations of receiving favourable calls during their playoff run, particularly in their victories over the Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills.
Barstool founder Dave Portnoy was left seething after losing £1 million when Buffalo was controversially deemed to have missed a crucial first down in the AFC Championship game.
Former Fox Sports analyst Skip Bayless suggested the NFL was deliberately favouring the Chiefs to profit from the Taylor Swift effect, writing: "YOU GAVE MAHOMES THE REFEREE SUPPORT HE NEEDED."
Blandino firmly rejected conspiracy theories, explaining: "There's no conspiracy. There's too many variables, there's too much going on. To me, it's the hardest sport."
He emphasised the practical impossibility of rigging matches with seven different officials per game.
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"The officials are just trying to get it right, and you can't tell me the Chiefs have made seven straight AFC Championship games, they're going to play for the three-peat, they're going to play in four Super Bowls in six years, that it's just because of the officiating," Blandino stated.
"They're a good team, and they make their own breaks," he added, whilst acknowledging they have "gotten the benefit of calls" at times.
The NFL has already named its officiating crew for Super Bowl LIX, with Ron Torbert set to lead the team in New Orleans.
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Taylor Swift's relationship with Travis Kelce has been denoted as the reason for referees favouring the Chiefs
Reuters
This will be Torbert's second Super Bowl assignment, having previously officiated the Los Angeles Rams' victory over Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has dismissed suggestions of officiating bias, stating: "I've been on both sides of it as far as how I felt the calls were made."
The Chiefs will face the Philadelphia Eagles on 9 February, seeking to become the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowls.
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