CFL SETS NEW PLAYER SAFETY STANDARDS

"We have a profound responsibility to safeguard the safety of the young men who play our wonderful but tough game." -- Commissioner Mark Cohon

Toronto, ON - (October 2, 2008) - To protect player safety, the Canadian Football League is setting a tough new standard that includes mandatory suspensions.

"We have a profound responsibility to safeguard the safety of the young men who play our wonderful but tough game, and this action is all about fulfilling that responsibility," said CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon.

From now on, any illegal act that creates a substantial and unnecessary risk of injury to an opposing player will be subject to a mandatory suspension.

Examples of illegal acts that will be deemed to create a substantial and unnecessary risk of injury to an opposing player include the following:

• spearing to the helmet or facemask of an opposing player outside of the acceptable standards of play
• throwing a helmet in a reckless and dangerous manner
• violently kicking, punching, kneeing, or stomping an opponent who is in a defenseless position.

"By setting this new standard, we are striving to give players clear, advance and fair warning of the penalties that they will face for acts that have no place in our game," Cohon said.

Under the current disciplinary system, this will provide an arbitrator with a new and important standard to consider.

"It's time we reset the bar for the benefit of the players, the fans and those who administer our disciplinary system," said Michael Copeland, the CFL's Chief Operating Officer.

"We are always open to working with the players association on all issues of importance to our league. And we have been working with them on this issue," Cohon said.

"Unfortunately, we have not been able to achieve a joint resolution. So we are acting unilaterally today because we feel that it's in the best interests of our players, and our league, to do so."

The new standard is in effect immediately and will apply to this weekend's games.