Referee error helps bookies grab cash

Nov 17, 2008 - 5:32 PM LAS VEGAS (Ticker) -- An errant decision by referee Scott Green at the end of Sunday's game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Diego Chargers proved very profitable for some people.

A five-point favorite, the Steelers held an 11-10 lead in the waning seconds when things got crazy.

On 1st-and-10 from his own 21-yard line with five seconds remaining, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers tossed a short pass over the middle to LaDainian Tomlinson. The Pro Bowl running back turned and made a handoff-type lateral to wide receiver Chris Chambers, whose wild attempted lateral was broken up and eventually taken into the end zone for a touchdown by Steelers safety Troy Polamalu.

After both teams left the field, they were called back by officials for the extra point which, if good, would have made the final score 18-10. However, as the teams were lining up for the PAT, the replay official called for a review.

Green, who watched the replay, then announced the ruling on the field was upheld and the touchdown counted, which would have given the Steelers the cover. More confusion ensued as Green and the officiating crew again huddled, deciding that one of the laterals was an illegal forward pass which should have ended the game.

In a postgame interview with a pool reporter, Green admitted the call was incorrect and that the touchdown should have counted.

"We should have let the play go through in the end, yes," Green said. "It was misinterpreted that instead of killing the play, we should have let the play go through."

An estimated $100 million was wagered worldwide on the Steelers/Chargers game, according to RJ Bell of Pregame.com, a Las Vegas-based sports information service. Approximately 66 percent of that money was bet on the Steelers, with only 34 percent on the Chargers.

"If the touchdown was properly upheld, Steelers bettors would have won about $32 million instead of losing big," Bell said. "This admittedly incorrect call resulted in a $64 million swing in favor of the bookies."