SEC bars veteran official Ken Williamson after Auburn-Georgia game

The Southeastern Conference has permanently removed veteran referee Ken Williamson from officiating league games following a string of disputed calls in Auburns Oct. 11 game against Georgia, conference officials and people familiar with the matter said. The decision, announced this week, follows 11 formal complaints about Williamson and his crew from that matchup, nine of which conference reviewers determined had merit.

The most consequential call occurred late in the second quarter when Auburn quarterback Jackson Arnold attempted a quarterback sneak near the goal line. Officials on the field ruled the play a fumble recovered by Georgia. Television replays showed multiple angles in which Arnold appeared to break the plane of the goal line before losing possession, a result that would have been ruled a touchdown. After the turnover, Georgia mounted a 12-play, 88-yard drive that ended with a field goal, trimming Auburns halftime lead to 10-3. Georgia went on to win 20-10.

Conference guidelines require weekly and annual evaluations of officiating crews, and those reviews are used to determine future game assignments, including postseason roles. The SEC declined to comment on the...