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| NFL players’ union appeals Ray Rice's indefinite suspension | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The NFL players’ union has appealed against Ray Rice’s indefinite suspension. | The NFL players’ union has appealed against Ray Rice’s indefinite suspension. |
| Rice was originally handed a two-game suspension in July under the NFL’s personal conduct policy after he was charged with assault following an altercation in February with his then-fiancee in a casino elevator and has been referred to an offender-rehabilitation program. | Rice was originally handed a two-game suspension in July under the NFL’s personal conduct policy after he was charged with assault following an altercation in February with his then-fiancee in a casino elevator and has been referred to an offender-rehabilitation program. |
| The Baltimore running back had already served the first game of that suspension when a video surfaced this month showing Rice apparently knocking out Janay Palmer, now his wife, in the elevator in Atlantic City and dragging her outside into the corridor. | The Baltimore running back had already served the first game of that suspension when a video surfaced this month showing Rice apparently knocking out Janay Palmer, now his wife, in the elevator in Atlantic City and dragging her outside into the corridor. |
| Within hours, the Ravens released Rice and the NFL commissioner Roger Goodell extended the suspension to indefinite based on the “new evidence.” | Within hours, the Ravens released Rice and the NFL commissioner Roger Goodell extended the suspension to indefinite based on the “new evidence.” |
| Goodell and the Ravens say they never saw the video before it was released in September. | Goodell and the Ravens say they never saw the video before it was released in September. |
| “This action taken by our union is to protect the due process rights of all NFL players,” the NFL Players Association said in a statement. “The NFLPA appeal is based on supporting facts that reveal a lack of a fair and impartial process, including the role of the office of the commissioner of the NFL. | “This action taken by our union is to protect the due process rights of all NFL players,” the NFL Players Association said in a statement. “The NFLPA appeal is based on supporting facts that reveal a lack of a fair and impartial process, including the role of the office of the commissioner of the NFL. |
| “We have asked that a neutral and jointly selected arbitrator hear this case as the commissioner and his staff will be essential witnesses in the proceeding and thus cannot serve as impartial arbitrators.” | “We have asked that a neutral and jointly selected arbitrator hear this case as the commissioner and his staff will be essential witnesses in the proceeding and thus cannot serve as impartial arbitrators.” |
| A hearing date is due to be set within 10 days of the appeal notice. It also said the hearing will require a neutral arbitrator to determine what information was available to the NFL and when it was available. | A hearing date is due to be set within 10 days of the appeal notice. It also said the hearing will require a neutral arbitrator to determine what information was available to the NFL and when it was available. |
| The union says that under labor law, an employee cannot be punished twice for the same action when all of the relevant facts were available to the employer at the time of the first punishment. | The union says that under labor law, an employee cannot be punished twice for the same action when all of the relevant facts were available to the employer at the time of the first punishment. |
| Goodell, in a letter sent to all 32 NFL owners in August, acknowledged that he “didn’t get it right”. | Goodell, in a letter sent to all 32 NFL owners in August, acknowledged that he “didn’t get it right”. |
| He then announced a new policy, stating that first-time domestic violence offenders would face a six-game suspension, and repeat offenders would be suspended indefinitely. | He then announced a new policy, stating that first-time domestic violence offenders would face a six-game suspension, and repeat offenders would be suspended indefinitely. |
| With all questions about who knew what and when – and the Associated Press has reported the video was sent to NFL offices in April – the league has hired the former FBI director Robert Mueller to look into how the NFL sought and handled evidence in the domestic violence case. | With all questions about who knew what and when – and the Associated Press has reported the video was sent to NFL offices in April – the league has hired the former FBI director Robert Mueller to look into how the NFL sought and handled evidence in the domestic violence case. |
| Rice later defended her husband, accusing the media of exploiting the incident. “To make us relive a moment in our lives that we regret everyday is a horrible thing,” she said. “To take something away from the man I love that he has worked his ass off for all his life just to gain ratings is a horrific [sic]. THIS IS OUR LIFE! | Rice later defended her husband, accusing the media of exploiting the incident. “To make us relive a moment in our lives that we regret everyday is a horrible thing,” she said. “To take something away from the man I love that he has worked his ass off for all his life just to gain ratings is a horrific [sic]. THIS IS OUR LIFE! |
| “If your intentions were to hurt us, embarrass us, make us feel alone, take all happiness away, you’ve succeeded on so many levels.” | “If your intentions were to hurt us, embarrass us, make us feel alone, take all happiness away, you’ve succeeded on so many levels.” |
| According to Bloomberg.com, the recent incidents of alleged abuse by American footballers is making the NFL’s sponsors increasingly nervous. | According to Bloomberg.com, the recent incidents of alleged abuse by American footballers is making the NFL’s sponsors increasingly nervous. |
| Anheuser-Busch, the league’s official beer sponsor, said it was “disappointed and increasingly concerned by the recent incidents that have overshadowed this NFL season”. | Anheuser-Busch, the league’s official beer sponsor, said it was “disappointed and increasingly concerned by the recent incidents that have overshadowed this NFL season”. |
| It added: “We are not yet satisfied with the league’s handling of behaviours that so clearly go against our own company culture and moral code.” | It added: “We are not yet satisfied with the league’s handling of behaviours that so clearly go against our own company culture and moral code.” |
| Another sponsor, McDonald’s, released a statement saying “domestic violence and abuse are unacceptable behaviors and have no place in sports, or anywhere. | Another sponsor, McDonald’s, released a statement saying “domestic violence and abuse are unacceptable behaviors and have no place in sports, or anywhere. |
| “As a family brand, we’ve communicated our concerns to the league, and we expect it to take strong and necessary actions to address these issues.” | “As a family brand, we’ve communicated our concerns to the league, and we expect it to take strong and necessary actions to address these issues.” |