Fratmen, Braves not punished in racial slurs case
League issues warning to both clubs
There will be no fines or suspensions resulting from the exchange of racial slurs between players during an Ontario Football Conference game between Burlington and Windsor at Windsor Stadium Sept. 15.
The OFC’s Disciplinary Committee completed its investigation and released its findings Wednesday.
“They couldn’t identify the players or which team started it,” OFC president Darren Cocchetto said.
“It was going both ways, but the officials didn’t hear it.
“Because of that, we couldn’t implement any further discipline.”
However, Cocchetto said both the Fratmen and Braves have been warned a repeat offence will result in fines at the minimum.
“We don’t like to be a league of fines,” Cocchetto said.
“We’d rather try and have the teams work together to solve problems.
“However, repeat offenders are looking at a fine next time. This isn’t going to be tolerated.
“We would’ve suspended the players if we were sure we could identify them.”
Cocchetto said the league now considers this particular incident closed.
However, the broader issue of racial slurs and taunting on the field is far from being taken off the agenda.
“We’re looking to be preventative rather than reactive going forward,” Cocchetto said.
That’ll start with some more discussion at an OFC meeting prior to the league’s title game in a few weeks.
Cocchetto said this incident is already on the agenda for the Canadian Junior Football League’s annual general meeting in November.
“There’s going to be the implementation of an education program,” Cocchetto said.
“Teams will now have mandatory presentations on this issue each year.
“It’s going to be codified in the CJFL rules.
“We have some rules now on taunting, but it’ll become more formalized.
“If you’re caught, you’ll be suspended and your team fined.
“Maybe that’ll help curb it. If it helps even two or three players control what they say on the field, then that’s a success to a certain extent.”