FUMING Andy Reid has hit back at claims that officials favor the Kansas City Chiefs.

Much of the build up to Sunday’s Super Bowl has been dominated by talk of officials.

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Chiefs coach Andy Reid has hit back at those who say games are ‘rigged’ in their favor

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Roger Goodell had to defend refs earlier this week amid consistent claims they are favoring Kansas CityCredit: Reuters
Roger Goodell was asked questions about the level of officiating, while the referees’ union issued a strong statement on claims they were ‘rigging’ games in favor of the Chiefs.

It comes after the Chiefs had some calls go their way in the Divisional Round against the Houston Texans and the AFC Championship game against the Buffalo Bills.

NFL legend Terrell Owens was among the pundits to reinforce the idea, while Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo went on an incredible three-minute rant.

But ahead of the game against the Philadelphia Eagles, head coach Reid has fired back at the conspiracy theorists.

Reid, who is chasing an unprecedented third successive Super Bowl win, said: “I don’t think the officials care about what’s said.

“They’re doing their job.

“They’re doing it to the best of their ability, they don’t favor one side or the other, and that’s not how this thing goes.

“It’s a good story, but that’s not reality of how it works.

“You’d be insulting them to think that’s what they do.

“They go out and they call it like they see it.

‘Not stupid’. Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo goes on three-minute ‘all-time’ First Take rant over ‘obvious’ Chiefs favoritism

“As a coach, there’s some I sit there and I go, ‘I don’t agree with some, some I agree with’.

“That’s how it goes, but It does make for a good story.”

Retired superstar Owens, who famously fell out with Reid during their time together, had previously said: “It’s crazy, because I played the game and I’m watching the game and I’m looking at all these calls that they’re just, that’s benefiting the Kansas City Chiefs.

“Look at the game before, against the Texans. Mahomes is smart, he’s dinking around, he’s causing the flag, you know what I mean?

“He’s getting the benefit. He didn’t even get hit. Fifteen-yard flag, the guy, Will Anderson, barely hit him.

“That can stop the momentum of the game.

NFL Referees’ Statement in Full

The NFL Referees Association, the union representing all NFL Officials, appreciates the NFL Commissioner’s comments about our members’ unwavering dedication to fairness and maintaining the integrity of the game.

“Commissioner Goodell’s comments that it is ‘ridiculous’ to presume that NFL Officials are not doing everything possible to make the right call on every play is spot on,” said Scott Green, Executive Director of the NFLRA.

“Officiating crews do not work the same team more than twice each regular season. It is insulting and preposterous to hear conspiracy theories that somehow 17 officiating crews consisting of 138 officials are colluding to assist one team.”

NFL Officials are graded every week, on every single play of each game. These grades are the determining factor as to who receives postseason assignments. The NFLRA commends its members, who all strive to do exactly what all 32 NFL Teams do, which is to excel at their jobs so that they are working the last game of the season – the Super Bowl.

“There are many things that fans can worry about over a 17-game season, such as coaching decisions, player injuries, the weather and, yes, even close calls on incredible plays made by incredible athletes,” Green continued.

“But you can rest assured that on every single down, NFL Officials, both on the field and in the replay booth, are doing everything humanly possible to officiate every play correctly.”

“At that point in time, the Houston Texans were in the game.

“Those calls right there advances them, gives them extra downs.

“It changed the whole complexity of the game.”

Owens added: “You can even go back to the last couple of Super Bowls, even when the Niners played the Super Bowl.

“Look at all the holding calls. If you watched the tape, it was cray.

“They were getting clothes-lined and they were not calling it.

“It was blatant, blatant calls that were, like, obvious. It was blatant, it’s unreal.

“I never would’ve thought I would say that I thought games were rigged, but somebody got plays, but it is unreal at the amount of all calls that are not called against the Kansas City Chiefs that are called against everybody else.”