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PARIS — The NFL attempted to get away from Bill Vinovich receiving a hostile reception as he called a New Orleans Saints game for the first time in eight years — but international fans would not let them get away with it.
Incredibly, Vinovich has not been in charge of a Saints game since a playoff game in 2018. Yes, it was that playoff game.
The Saints faced the Los Angeles Rams in the Superdome, driving downfield with a chance to win. Quarterback Drew Brees targeted wide receiver Tommylee Lewis on third down, with Rams defensive back Nickell Robey-Coleman blatantly hitting the receiver before the ball got to him.
Vinovich and his team did not throw the flag, and the Rams went down the field to kick a game-winning field goal, advancing to the Super Bowl.
It is now known as the infamous 'NOLA No-Call' — with the Saints never coming close to making it back to the Super Bowl since that play.
Vinovich faced calls for his firing at the time of the no-call, and the NFL has not had him officiate a Saints home game since then.
The Saints are officially the home team in Paris as they face the Pittsburgh Steelers, with the officials being introduced to the fans.
And as soon as Vinovich's name was read up and his face on the big screen, fans let him hear it.
Vinovich was booed for around 45 seconds during the coin toss.
While some would argue Vinovich was not at fault for the no-call, as one of several officials in the game, he put together the crew for what was an enormous occasion for the Saints.
The Rams went on to lose the Super Bowl to the New England Patriots, in what is remembered as one of the more boring Super Bowl games in history.
This was Tom Brady's last Super Bowl championship with the Patriots, a game in which Brees and the Saints would have likely been favored to win.
Since then, New Orleans has looked for their Brees replacement, with Tyler Shough having a solid start to the season after taking over for Spencer Rattler.
But the Saints have just a 2-4 start to the season, with another loss potentially making them sellers at the NFL trade deadline — further and further away from getting back to the game they cruelly lost in 2018.