The NFL has suspended Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch one game for making contact with an official during Thursday night’s game.
The NFL released its verdict Friday afternoon, noting Lynch “has been suspended without pay for one game for unsportsmanlike conduct in Thursday night’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.”
“You made deliberate physical contact with one of our game officials as he was diffusing an active confrontation between players,” NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan wrote to Lynch. “You were disqualified for your inappropriate and unsportsmanlike actions. Your conduct included pushing the game official and grabbing his jersey…You were not directly involved in the active confrontation that the game official was attempting to diffuse, nor were you a participant in the play that initiated the confrontation. You were the only player from either team who ran from the sideline to midfield to insert himself into a situation in which he was not directly involved.”
Marshawn Lynch suspended 1 game for unsportsmanlike conduct. pic.twitter.com/BmyCLpoo1w
— Michael Signora (@NFLfootballinfo) October 20, 2017
Lynch will be able to file an appeal within three business days, and he’ll reportedly do so.
#Raiders RB Marshawn Lynch will appeal his 1-game suspension, source said. Expect a hearing early next week.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 20, 2017
His actions Thursday night made him a popular topic of conversation on social media, and in news headlines nationally. If the suspension is upheld, Lynch will lose out on $79,412 in salary and another $31,250 due to the incentive-laden contract he signed, which pays him that amount for every game he plays this year.