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Bill Vinovich named head referee for Super Bowl XLIX

Bill Vinovich has been named head referee for Super Bowl XLIX.
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Referee Bill Vinovich will head the seven-person crew of officials during Super Bowl XLIX on Feb 1., the NFL announced on Tuesday.

Vinovich is in his ninth season as an NFL referee, entering the league as a side judge in 2001 and moving up to referee in 2004. Vinovich has officiated in five playoff games, including three divisional playoff games.

Most recently, Vinovich was the referee for the divisional round game between the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore coach John Harbaugh criticized Vinovich after the game for failing to properly inform the Ravens' staff about New England's player substitutions and offensive formations.

Super Bowl XLIX coverage hub: Patriots vs. Seahawks

Vinovich's officiating crew will include Bill Schuster as umpire, Dana McKenzie as head linesman, Mark Perlman as line judge, Bob Waggoner as field judge, Tom Hill as side judge and Terrance Miles as back judge.

Vinovich, Schuster, McKenzie and Miles will all be officiating in their first Super Bowl. Each member of the crew worked in one of the divisional round games, but no more than three of them were on the same crew.

The Patriots will face the Seattle Seahawks at 6:30 pm ET on Feb. 1 in Phoenix, Ariz.

- Christopher Woody