An NHL referee flipped off two Columbus Blue Jackets fans while he officiated a game against the Minnesota Wild.
The Columbus Dispatch reports after referee Paul Devorski missed a penalty call, two fans in the front row heckled the 22-year veteran. That’s when Devorski turned to the fans and made a crying gesture and used his middle finger while pretending to cry.
“Two guys in front of us started giving the refs (grief) after they clearly missed a call,” said Ritter Hoy, who was seated five rows up from the glass in section 109. “Happens at every game, right?
“Well, the No. 10 official put his fingers up and rubbed his eyes and made a crying face, like ‘what are you going to do, cry?’ They started giving him more (grief) and he put his middle finger up to his chin and acted like he was scratching his face. It was very, very blatant. The whole section saw it and went crazy.”
The Blue Jackets lost in a shootout 4-3. The Wild were given seven power plays to the Columbus’ zero. The league is investigating the accusations.
