Was it a catch or not? That's the question that has BC Lions owner Amar Doman up in arms and football fans across the country buzzing with debate. In a bold move, Doman took to social media to challenge the game-winning touchdown that handed the Saskatchewan Roughriders their victory in the Western Final. But here's where it gets controversial: Doman insists that Tommy Nield’s three-yard touchdown catch, which came with just 11 seconds left in the fourth quarter, should not have been ruled a catch. He shared a pair of images on Instagram—originally from Reddit, according to TSN Football Insider Farhan Lalji—that appear to show the ball touching the ground during the play. One photo even includes the caption, “Not a catch.”
Farhan Lalji weighed in on Twitter, noting, “Nothing I saw on the broadcast showed anything ‘clear & obvious’ enough to overturn. But the ball clearly touches the ground here. It may have still been in possession though.” The command center reviewed the play for over two minutes and ultimately decided to uphold the call on the field, securing the Riders’ comeback win. According to the rules, a play can only be overturned if there’s undeniable evidence to do so—something Doman clearly believes was present.
For Nield, the moment was a rollercoaster. “I knew I caught it the whole time. Then I’m seeing the review, and I’m like, ‘Is there something they saw?’ because you never know what’s going to happen there. I was just sitting there waiting, making sure I didn’t do all that celebrating for it to get turned over,” he said after the game. And this is the part most people miss: the emotional and strategic weight of that call, which not only decided the game but also sent the Riders to the Grey Cup, where they’ll face the Montreal Alouettes in Winnipeg on November 16.
But here’s the real question: Did the officials get it right, or was this a missed call that changed the course of the season? Doman’s public challenge has sparked a heated debate among fans and analysts alike. Was the ball truly secured, or did it hit the ground before Nield had full control? And more importantly, should the standard for overturning a call be reevaluated in high-stakes moments like this? Let us know what you think in the comments—this is one discussion you won’t want to miss!
