After ‘worst call ever,’ NFL’s reputation could suffer
A controversial call during last night’s Packers-Seahawks game has set off a PR firestorm for the NFL, which released a statement today saying it stands by the call.
Be thankful you don’t work in the National Football League’s PR department this morning.
During last night’s Monday Night Football game, the league’s much-maligned replacement referees—the current refs are on strike locked out by the league—made a ruling so controversial that fans raged, Twitter exploded, media pounced, and politicians went to extremes to express their displeasure.
And the NFL, in a series of moves to presumably quell the online fervor, deleted or tweaked a number of social media posts late Monday.
This is a public relations disaster for the league.
“The NFL’s success, and its ability to overcome challenges to its reputation, is rooted in the quality of its product,” PR professional (and NFL enthusiast) Jackson Wightman said. “Last week and throughout Sunday’s games, the media made noise about the effect the replacement refs had on player safety, and the choppy style of play exhibited during the games.
“Monday’s debacle was the culmination.”
In a statement posted to its website, the NFL is standing by the call.
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