Football: Illinois judge refuses to overturn game result because of blown official’s call

Mistakes by game officials aren’t normally overturned once they leave the field, and that remains the case after a Cook County judge in Illinois refused to reverse the results of a football playoff game despite a blunder by game officials.

The Chicago Tribune reported that Fenwick High School challenged the decision by the Illinois High School Athletic Assn., which had refused to hear an appeal from the private school, citing a bylaw declaring that decisions by officials shall be final.

A mistaken decision by officials with no time left allowed Plainfield North to tie last weekend’s game with a field goal in regulation and then win, 18-17, in overtime on a two-point conversion.

Judge Kathleen Kennedy upheld the game result.

In a news release, the IHSAA said, “Judge Kennedy recognized the historic precedent that would have resulted if she had overturned the outcome of the game based on an officiating error.”

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