Referee Clay Martin Files 20-Page Appeal After NFL Suspension — Denies Wrongdoing in Steelers-Bengals Controversy
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October 22, 2025 | New York, NY
The fallout from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 33–31 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 6 has taken another turn. Suspended referee Clay Martin has officially filed a 20-page appeal challenging the NFL’s decision to remove his officiating crew following what the league called “a series of significant judgment errors.”
Martin’s appeal, obtained by ESPN, presents a detailed defense against each of the five controversial calls cited by the NFL and the public — and claims that “external pressure, social media outrage, and selective video editing” led to an unfair disciplinary action.
“This decision was made in the court of public opinion, not through professional review,” Martin wrote in his appeal. “Every call we made was supported by game-day mechanics, angles available, and the rulebook as written. Officials are being punished for doing their jobs in real time.”
🏈 Martin’s Defense Point by Point
1. The Pass Interference Call on Jalen Ramsey
The most debated play came in the second quarter, when cornerback Jalen Ramsey was flagged for defensive pass interference on Ja’Marr Chase, leading to a Bengals touchdown. Fans argued that Chase initiated contact first.
Martin’s report cites Rule 8, Section 5, Article 1 of the NFL Rulebook, which allows contact deemed “restrictive or impeding at the point of attack” even if both players make contact.
Ja'Marr Chase COOKED Jalen Ramsey 😱
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 17, 2025
Chase is still by far the best WR in the NFL.
pic.twitter.com/SyVeQSqqGt
“Ramsey’s grab on the left arm clearly restricted the receiver’s ability to extend for the ball,” Martin wrote. “There was contact on both sides, but Ramsey’s action directly prevented a catchable pass. That’s DPI by rule.”
The appeal also notes that the replay angles shown on social media did not include the sideline view available to officials, which allegedly supported the call.
2. False Start on the Steelers’ “Tush Push”
Steelers fans argued that the false start penalty was inconsistent with similar plays by other teams. Martin’s appeal, however, explains that the left guard moved his hand forward before the snap, violating the neutral zone rule.
Eagles jump like this on every tush push. Never gets called. Steelers do it. There’s yellow flags everywhere. NFL get a clue! pic.twitter.com/BODGoklFMk
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) October 17, 2025
“We don’t officiate based on precedent or popularity,” the letter states. “A movement before the snap is still a movement before the snap.”
Martin added that the play was reviewed internally by the league’s officiating department on game night and initially confirmed as correct — making the later public criticism “contradictory and politically motivated.”
3. The Holding Call That Erased a Steelers Touchdown
A really nice touchdown run here by Jaylen Warren is negated by a #Steelers holding call: pic.twitter.com/D86DOb9CSf
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulliNFL) October 17, 2025
Perhaps the most controversial flag came on offensive lineman Jaylen Warren, whose holding call nullified a 20-yard touchdown run. Martin’s response:
“Warren’s right hand was outside the framework of the defender’s shoulder pads. He gripped, turned, and redirected the defender. Whether minimal or not, by definition that is holding. It’s not about strength — it’s about position and restriction.”
Martin also noted that coaches are routinely briefed about that exact rule interpretation in preseason meetings.
4. Missed Holding Calls on Bengals Linemen
Steelers players and fans accused officials of ignoring clear holding fouls on multiple Bengals offensive linemen. Martin countered that such calls depend on angle, leverage, and effect on the play.
“Not every grab is a hold,” the report reads. “If the defensive player maintains pursuit or the contact doesn’t restrict motion, there’s no foul. We can’t guess at penalties from behind the play — that’s what fans on TV are doing, not what the rulebook requires.”
He added that league evaluators reviewed 11 alleged missed holds — and only one was deemed questionable.
5. Early Whistle on the Potential Steelers Interception Return
The final controversy came late in the fourth quarter, when a potential interception return was blown dead prematurely. The appeal acknowledges the whistle but defends it as a player-safety decision consistent with training.
“The receiver’s forward progress appeared stopped, and multiple defenders had hands on him,” Martin wrote. “Officials are instructed to protect players in those scenarios. The decision may have halted a return, but it prevented unnecessary risk.”
⚖️ Claim of Unfair Process
In closing, Martin criticized the NFL for issuing a public suspension before the official officiating review was completed, calling it “a breach of standard procedure.” He argues that the move was meant to appease fan outrage, not uphold fairness.
“Our job isn’t to entertain the crowd,” he wrote. “It’s to enforce the rules as they’re written. If accuracy is sacrificed to public pressure, then integrity — not officiating — is what truly fails.”
League sources confirm that the NFL Officiating Department has received Martin’s appeal and will review it “through the standard internal process.”
While the public continues to debate every whistle from the Steelers-Bengals thriller, Clay Martin’s message is clear — he believes the league made him a scapegoat for fan outrage.
As one official anonymously told ESPN:
“Everyone wants perfection from humans working at real speed. Clay’s right about one thing — sometimes, the mob decides before the film does.”
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