The Canadian Football League has issued new guidelines for its command centre for the second half of the 2024 season, focusing on what they are calling the “clear and obvious principle.”
In order to overturn calls on the field, replay officials must have a clear, unobstructed view of the action in question, and the correct outcome must be obvious when compared to an established standard created by the rules committee and the CFL officiating department.
In order to improve performance and consistency, the league has enacted several changes in consultation with team presidents, general managers, and head coaches. In addition to a greater emphasis on the clear and obvious principle, the command centre will only intervene when an obvious error has been made and a correction can be made without significant delay.
In addition, the roster of replay officials has been greatly reduced, with enhanced evaluations coming into effect to improve accountability and learning.
The command centre has been the subject of a number of controversial calls throughout the 2024 season. In Week 9, an obvious fumble by Ticats’ fullback Jame Tuck was not awarded to the Montreal Alouettes, despite what appeared to be a clear recovery. In Week 10, an overtime clash between Ottawa and Saskatchewan had to be restarted after the final whistle when a roughing the passer penalty was retroactively awarded against the Riders, who were already celebrating a victory.
Efforts were made to quietly change the focus of replay officials in Week 11 but debate still raged after Alouettes’ quarterback Davis Alexander was ruled in bounds on a game-winning touchdown run against Saskatchewan, despite video evidence suggesting he stepped out.
The CFL implemented video review in 2006, giving coaches two challenges per game. On-field officials initially conducted the reviews on the sideline, though this practice was discontinued in 2009 following the introduction of a central command centre headquartered at the league office in Toronto. Challenges were limited to one per coach in 2017, with a second added if successful on the first beginning in 2019.
According to the league, the command centre will undergo a comprehensive review as part of the standard offseason agenda.
