Alouettes Make Statement
Published on September 9, 2009 under Canadian Football League (CFL)
Montreal Alouettes News Release
Montreal, September 9, 2009 - The Montreal Alouettes filed a protest with the Canadian Football League (CFL) and Commissioner Mark Cohon on Sunday night, September 6, 2009. The Alouettes are protesting the game versus the British Columbia Lions held on September 4, 2009.
The information presented in this statement has been gathered by the Montreal Alouettes and is only the opinion of the Montreal Alouettes based on the facts that we have collected and reviewed. The team is expecting a decision from the Commissioner over the course of the next 36 hours. Until a decision is announced, the Alouettes will not comment on this matter.
The Montreal Alouettes' protest is based on the following:
1. While running a second third-down and 1 yard to go play, Avon Cobourne scored an uncontested touchdown. On this play:
- No whistles were blown (as confirmed by visual and audio evidence and official game film).
- No official ever tried to stop the play (as confirmed by visual and audio evidence and official game film).
- No player on the field stopped playing as a result of hearing a whistle, and specifically, B.C.'s defensive players continued to chase running back Avon Cobourne until he crossed the goal line and the whistle blew (as confirmed by visual and audio evidence and official game film).
- It was an official play that resulted in a touchdown.
2. CFL Office officials stated that they "attempted" to stop the play by activating a pager device that is worn by four different officials, including the Referee:
- It is apparent that either the devices did not go off until the player had crossed the goal line or they did go off, no official stopped the play because it had occurred after the play started, thus meaning that the play was official (as confirmed by visual and audio evidence and official game film).
- The only whistle blown on the field was the whistle to signify a touchdown by Avon Cobourne and the Montreal Alouettes (as confirmed by visual and audio evidence and official game film).
3. What makes this sequence of events even more confusing, is that the clock that the CFL Office replay officials were trying to check was correct the entire time:
- After the first third-down and 1 yard to go play was ran, the clock started at 1:05 and ran down and stopped at 1:00 minute when the B.C. Lions successfully called timeout before the play occurred.
- When the second third-down play began, the clock started at the appropriate time of 1:00 minute.
- When the CFL Office replay officials decided to void the second third-down play, the Alouettes had to run a third, third-down play that started exactly at 1:00 minute. This means that there was absolutely nothing wrong with the time clock and with the second third-down play that resulted in a touchdown.
4. The CFL on-field officials and CFL replay officials had every chance to rectified the situation after the on-field officials got together to discuss the play (or non-play) in question:
- The Referee could have informed the CFL replay officials that the clock was correct.
- The Referee could have informed the CFL replay officials that their pagers were not activated before the play took place and the touchdown was scored. Again, the only whistle blown on the field was after the touchdown by the Montreal Alouettes (as confirmed by visual and audio evidence and official game film).
5. The explanation put forward during the broadcast by the Head CFL Referee was that the Montreal Alouettes would have to replay the play a third time, because their intention was to stop the play in question before it began, and they therefore decided to void that play. This is the basis of the Montreal Alouettes protest.
- If a team wants to challenge a play, it has until the snap of the ball.
- If a team wants to call a time out, it has until the snap of the ball.
- If the CFL replay officials want to stop a play, they have until the snap of the ball. This did not occur nor was there a whistle blown before the touchdown was scored as for visual and audio evidence and official game film.
6. The Montreal Alouettes have suggested the following potential solutions:
- Continue the game where the touchdown was scored and complete the final minute of the game and possible overtime. This can be done at the conclusion of the contest being held in Montreal against the same B.C. Lion team on Sunday, September 13, 2009.
OR
- The game is declared a tie.
7. This decision on the part of both the on-field officials and the replay officials affects not only the Montreal Alouettes, but all other CFL teams as well
- It has a direct impact on the standings in both the Eastern and Western Divisions.
- This decision could also result in a crossover in the playoffs, where the B.C. Lions, as a result of the two points they earned in the standings after being given a win in the game in question, could eliminate an Eastern Division team from the playoffs.
- This would cost the team missing the playoffs potential revenue.
- In addition, this decision could cost fans a chance to see their team in a home playoff game, or a playoff game at all.
The Montreal Alouettes have filed this protest in order to have the appropriate corrective action taken. Properly rectifying this situation would be a win-win situation for the CFL.
Canadian Football League Stories from September 9, 2009
- Alouettes React to Commissioner's Statement - Montreal Alouettes
- Riders welcome back Kitwana Jones - Saskatchewan Roughriders
- Adam Rita Fined - CFL
- Commissioner Mark Cohon Makes Statement - CFL
- Stamps travel to Edmonton for rematch - Calgary Stampeders
- Blue Bombers Add Kordic To Practice Roster - Winnipeg Blue Bombers
- Roughriders unveil Centennial initiatives - Saskatchewan Roughriders
- Stala Earns Canadian Player of the Week Award - Hamilton Tiger-Cats
- Mallett and Armour named Gibson's Finest Players of the Week - B.C. Lions
- Andre Durie Earns CFL Weekly Award - Toronto Argonauts
- Gibson's Finest CFL Players of the Week 10 - CFL
- Stamps add Hughes and George - Calgary Stampeders
- Alouettes Make Statement - Montreal Alouettes
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
