The Super Bowl wouldn’t be complete without a contentious call from the NFL officials, and this year was no exception.

During the Chiefs-49ers showdown in the second quarter, Bill Vinovich flagged Nick Bolton for a horse-collar penalty on Brock Purdy. Initially, the call appeared justified, but upon closer examination, its legitimacy was called into question.

Former NFL referee Gene Steratore didn’t find fault with the call, stating, “That’s a horse-collar safety foul.”

However, the majority of the NFL community disagreed, viewing Vinovich’s crew’s decision as a costly error.

Mike Florio weighed in on the penalty, emphasizing its impact:

“Was that really a horse-collar tackle? ‘No player shall grab the inside collar of the back or the side of the shoulder pads or jersey, or grab the jersey at the name plate or above, and pull the runner toward the ground.’ He was not pulled ‘toward’ the ground, was he?”

The 49ers scored a touchdown on that same drive. It’s possible they would’ve scored anyway, but you never want to concede a free 15 yards, especially in the Super Bowl.

This questionable call adds to a season rife with officiating controversies. Many fans and media pundits have been clamoring for increased accountability from NFL officials in the upcoming season. With officiating issues plaguing the league, there’s a collective hope for improvement in the seasons to come.

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