Referee Receives Lifetime Ban After Incorrect Goal Decision in KHL Game

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia — A referee in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) has been banned for life following a significant error during a recent game between SKA St. Petersburg and Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. The controversial play occurred in the 46th minute when defenseman Andrey Pedan was credited with the game-winning goal.

Upon review, it was clear that Pedan’s shot had entered the net through the side netting, rendering the goal invalid. According to KHL rules, the video review official was required to confirm the goal during a mandatory 60-second pause before the goal light was turned on. The referee involved failed to follow this procedure, leading to the costly mistake.

The KHL Refereeing Department issued an apology to both teams and their fans, stating that the official involved will no longer officiate any KHL games. “This incident is regrettable, and we will work to ensure it does not happen again,” the department said in a statement.

This incident echoes a recent situation in the NHL, where veteran referee Tim Peel was also banned from officiating following comments he made during a game in 2021. Peel had openly stated his intention to award a penalty to the Nashville Predators during a matchup against the Detroit Red Wings.

As for the KHL, the organization aims to enhance its refereeing processes to prevent similar errors in the future. The outcome of this game has raised questions about the importance of video reviews and accurate officiating in professional sports.