Immaculate Reception.

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

They didn't want it used as a means of passing the ball.

In Canadian football it was allowed as a means of controlling but not advancing a forward pass. So, until about 20 yrs. ago, if one player deflected the ball forward to a teammate who would've been eligible to receive the original, the teammate could still catch it, and the play would be ruled "completed pass followed by offside pass", the point at which the ball was deflected or batted taken as the point of completion of one pass and origin of another, the 2nd being illegal, so loss of down at that point. It's still possible in Canadian football to have a completed forward pass chain with an illegal link somewhere in it, depending on receiver eligibility.

Play: Offensive lineman legally is in the end zone, about 5 yards deep, by means of blocking an opponent. The defensive player leaves, rendering the offensive lineman "open". The passer, now being chased, throws the ball to an eligible player who is 1 yard deep into the end zone. The ball tips off of the eligible receiver and proceeds to the ineligible receiver, who catches the ball.

Ruling?