STATEMENT ON CFLPA’S DECISION TO CHALLENGE CFL’S ATTEMPT TO PUNISH AND DETER A DANGEROUS PLAY

TORONTO (June 19, 2019) -- The Canadian Football League (CFL) has released the following statement: 

The CFL is deeply disappointed that the CFLPA has decided to contest the league’s attempt to punish and deter a dangerous play. It is highly regrettable that the association has informed us it has decided to grieve the two-game suspension the CFL has imposed on Hamilton Tiger-Cat Simoni Lawrence after he struck Saskatchewan Roughrider quarterback Zach Collaros in the head after Collaros had given himself up by sliding feet first.

We should embrace a shared responsibility to do all we can to punish and deter any play that crosses the line. It is disappointing that the union has decided to use a legal process, at considerable time and expense, to defend an offending player instead of standing up for the player hurt on the play. Let’s use that time and money to instead work together on new ways to promote and protect all players’ safety.

Randy Ambrosie
Commissioner
CFL