NFL Referees Association: Cutting Dennis Wideman's suspension 'sends a horrible message'

Outrage over the decision to halve Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman’s suspension for checking a linesman earlier this season isn’t limited just to NHL officials.

The National Football League Referees Association (NFLRA) said in a statement released on Monday that the arbitrator's decision to cut Wideman’s ban from 20 to 10 games “sends a horrible message about sportsmanship and the behavior of athletes."

“The integrity of all sports rests with the conduct of the players and the enforcement of the rules by officials,” NFLRA Executive Director Jim Quirk said in the statement. “It’s a sad day when leniency is provided to an athlete who so directly violates this code of conduct and sportsmanship.”

Wideman originally was suspended 20 games for violating Rule 40 (Physical Abuse of Officials). His suspension was upheld in an appeal by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, who ruled there was enough evidence to show Wideman deliberately attempted to injure linesman Don Henderson during a game against the Nashville Predators on Jan. 27. The NHL Players’ Association appealed the ruling, and an independent arbitrator disagreed with Bettman’s assessment and reduced the suspension on Friday.

Wideman suffered a concussion from a hit moments before he skated toward the bench and collided with Henderson. Wideman had already served 19 games of the suspension, though now he's eligible to get back about $282,000 in lost compensation.

Henderson, who was concussed as result of the collision, is expected to miss the rest of the season, the National Hockey League Officials Association (NHLOA) announced on Saturday.