Longtime football referee Ken Williamson was “permanently suspended” by the Southeastern Conference this week following his performance in the game between the University of Georgia and Auburn University.
According to ESPN, Williamson and his crew made two controversial calls during the Oct. 11 game. He “missed a targeting penalty against Auburn,” and ruled a fumble by Auburn despite a Georgia linebacker “punching” the ball from quarterback Jackson Arnold’s hands.
The SEC declined to comment on the suspension, saying it “does not comment on personnel matters.”
The SEC did confirm that there were eleven complaints against the veteran referee, and nine of those were validated by conference officials.
The controversial calls in the Georgia, Auburn game were not the first incident to call Williamson’s officiating into question this season. Williamson was leading the crew that earlier this season blew the call on Oklahoma’s trick-play touchdown, also against Auburn.
Related: SEC Claims Officials Blew the Call on Oklahoma’s Trick Play Touchdown
"I think this does set a very dangerous precedent," said Terry McAulay, former NFL official and coordinator of football officials for the Big East. "I mean, it's basically succumbing to the masses who want every official's head on a post after a difficult loss where there were maybe some controversial calls. I know the world doesn't think they're accountable, but they certainly are. They work the whole season for postseason [assignments] and when they have situations like this, they don't get postseason assignments. They sometimes are not renewed. If they felt this rose to the level of a required punishment, there are certainly lesser punishments that may have been more appropriate than to basically end somebody's career."
According to the New York Post, Williamson has worked as an official with the SEC for 21 years, including the 2021 SEC Championship game, and as an alternate for the College Football Playoff Fiesta Bowl.
