League offcials take action after Washington tackle on the end of foul language.
NFL umpire Roy Ellison was suspended one game without pay on Friday for using abusive language toward Redskins tackle Trent Williams during a game last week.
Ellison was found to have made a derogatory statement to Williams while working as the umpire in the Redskins’ 24-16 loss to Philadelphia.
The NFL, which launched a probe after Williams complained, issued a statement on Friday on its code of conduct for officials.
“NFL game officials are expected to avoid personal confrontations with players and be respectful of players and coaches at all times,” the league said.
The statement noted that its contract with the referee’s association “states that ‘at no time will a game official engage in any conduct which adversely affects or reflects on the NFL or which results in the impairment of public confidence in the honest and orderly conduct of league games or the integrity or good character of its game officials.'”
Rich Hall, normally part of referee Ed Hochuli’s crew, will take Ellison’s place on Walt Coleman’s group for this week. Hall had been scheduled to have the weekend off.
Ellison’s suspension is the first of an on-field official since Jack Fette was reprimanded for conduct towards fans during a 1984 game between Seattle and Cincinnati.
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