NEW YORK: National Football League officials reached a deal with their referees’ union late Wednesday to end a lockout and regular officials will be back on the field starting with a game Thursday in Baltimore.
The settlement came about 48 hours after replacement officials botched a game-deciding call on the final play of a Monday night game to give Seattle a victory over Green Bay and pressure mounted upon the league to make a deal.
“Our officials will be back on the field starting tomorrow night,” said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, according to a statement on the league’s website.
“We appreciate the commitment of the NFL Referees Association in working through the issues to reach this important agreement.”
Union referees will work Thursday’s game between the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens before the entire referee union membership votes upon the eight-year agreement on Saturday in Dallas.
“Our board of directors has unanimously approved taking this proposed collective bargaining agreement to the membership for a ratification vote,” said union president Scott Green.
“We are glad to be getting back on the field for this week’s games.”
Final details of the deal were not immediately released.
Replacement referees worked pre-season games and the first three weeks of the NFL regular season, with a growing number of complaints from fans, players and coaches about the fill-ins’ performance.
Officials called in from the lower-level collegiate ranks were struggling to keep pace with the speed and physicality of the NFL game.
“Welcome back REFS glad y’all was able to get a deal done but thanks to replacements refs 4 trying their best given da circumstances,” said Buffalo Bills running back C.J. Spiller in a Twitter posting.
Players’ safety and league credibility were compromised, critics argued, and the final play of replacement players summed up the mess on Monday when one official signaled a touchdown and another an interception on the last play.
The call was ruled a touchdown and a video review upheld the decision.
However, television reviews replayed for days showed Green Bay defender M.D. Jennings outleaping Seattle receiver Golden Tate for the pickoff even though Tate also managed to grab the ball with his arms around Jennings.
“It’s something that unfortunately went against us, but we’re actually moving on,” Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. “There’s nothing we can do about it.”
NFL: League, referees reach deal to end lockout
NFL: League, referees reach deal to end lockout
Alcaraz and Sabalenka set sights on Australian Open fourth round
- Spanish world number one Alcaraz came through a tough three-set arm-wrestle in round two
- Top seed Sabalenka, a two-time Australian Open champion, faces Russia-born Austrian Anastasia Potapova
MELBOURNE: Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka return to the Australian Open battlefield on Friday with fourth round berths at stake, joined in the fight by third seeds Coco Gauff and Alexander Zverev.
Spanish world number one Alcaraz came through a tough three-set arm-wrestle in round two and faces another tricky encounter against French 32nd seed Corentin Moutet.
The 22-year-old has again been handed an afternoon match on Rod Laver Arena, once more following Sabalenka on to Melbourne Park’s center court.
The Belarusian top seed Sabalenka, a two-time Australian Open champion, faces Russia-born Austrian Anastasia Potapova to kick-off day six where temperatures are forecast to soar.
Alcaraz, who is bidding for a career Grand Slam of all four majors, said his testing 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, 6-2 victory over Yannick Hanfmann in round two served him well.
“I’m still getting used to the conditions, getting used to playing better,” said the six-time Grand Slam winner.
“Just happy that I’m just improving every day after every match. So hopefully being better in the next round.”
Alcaraz has never gone past the quarter-finals in his four trips to Australia.
Should he beat Moutet, he will meet either American 19th seed Tommy Paul or Spanish 14th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina to make the last eight once again.
Sabalenka, as the overwhelming favorite, was upset by Madison Keys in last year’s final but insists revenge is not her motivation.
“I look at each match as a new match, new opportunity. I have also been working really hard,” she said.
“For me, it doesn’t matter what was in the past. For me, it’s the new match.”
Like Sabalenka, Gauff has been impressive so far, saying she was “near perfect” in making the third round.
She faces fellow American Hailey Baptiste, ranked 70, on Margaret Court Arena.
World number three Gauff takes to the court after Russia’s three-time runner-up Daniil Medvedev, who lines up against Hungary’s Fabian Marozan.
Last year’s beaten finalist Zverev has dropped a set in both his opening two matches and will have a tough encounter in an evening clash on John Cain Arena against British 26th seed Cameron Norrie.
Women’s seventh seed Jasmine Paolini and men’s 10th seed Alexander Bublik are also in action.
Home hope and sixth seed Alex De Minaur has again been awarded the night match on center court, this time against dangerous American Frances Tiafoe.
Eighth seed Mirra Andreeva rounds out the day’s action on Rod Laver Arena in a clash with Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse.
