NFL admit referee call was wrong

THE NFL admitted that a referee made an incorrect call on the final play of the San Francisco 49ers’ 39-38 playoff victory over the New York Giants, a mistake that could have cost the Giants the game.

Mike Pereira, the NFL’s director of officiating, told the two teams that a defensive pass interference penalty should have been called on the 49ers, which would have allowed the Giants to retry a potential game-winning field goal.

“It doesn’t do us a damn bit of good,” Giants coach Jim Fassel said after the statement, which blamed referee Ron Winter’s officiating crew for not making the pass interference call.

After blowing a 38-14 second-half lead, the Giants still had a chance to win the game when Matt Bryant lined up for a 41-yard field goal with six seconds left in the fourth quarter.

However, the snap by veteran Trey Junkin was low and wide and holder Matt Allen couldn’t handle the ball.

Allen then ran to his right and lofted a desperation pass downfield to guard Rich Seubert, who was pushed by Niners defensive and Chike Okeafor as the ball was in the air.

No pass interference was called on the play and Giants guard Tam Hopkins was flagged for illegally running downfield on the pass attempt.

If interference had been called, then the game could not have ended due to offsetting penalties.