Saints Fans Pelted Refs With Trash After Non-PI Call In Vikings Playoff Game
N.O. Saints Fans Pelt Refs w/ Trash After Non-PI Call In Playoff Game
New Orleans Saints fans clearly felt they were screwed again in the playoffs ... throwing trash at the refs at the Superdome after another pass interference call didn't go their way.
In the overtime period of the Saints' Wild Card game against the Vikings, Kirk Cousins lobbed a pass up to Kyle Rudolph, who appeared to push off before catching the game-winning TD.
The Game Winning TD catch in Saints vs. Vikings
— Mitchell Renz (@MitchellRenz365) January 5, 2020 @MitchellRenz365
WOW that was CLEARLY offensive Pass Interference by Kyle Rudolph...#MINvsNO #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/Q68nYRjx7S
No flag was thrown ... and after the refs reviewed it, they still didn't call the play a penalty -- which pissed off A TON of Saints fans.
In a video captured from the lower bowl of the stadium ... you can see people in the stands firing various items at the refs as they were running off the field into the locker room.
— Janae Brother (@RestRody) January 5, 2020 @RestRody
At one point, one of the refs had to duck out of the way of what appeared to be a flying water bottle aimed at the guy's head!!
In fact, things got so bad, the PA announcer had to get on the mic and tell fans to NOT throw objects onto the field.
Of course, Saints fans are still bitter over the way Sean Payton's squad was booted from the playoffs in the NFC Championship Game against the Rams last season ... when a crucial defensive pass interference flag wasn't thrown there.
For their part, the refs defended Sunday's non-call ... with VP of Officiating Al Riveron saying, "There is contact by both players, but none of that contact rises to the level of a foul."
Riveron added, "This is consistent with what we've done all year long, we left the ruling on the field. We let it stand."