[Drake]

The CFL player's association has asked for a judicial review of the arbritrators decision upholding the contract of the Ticats' Chris Williams - virtually guaranteeing that the disgruntled receiver and return man won't wear a Hamilton uniform this season.

Independent arbitrator E.E. Palmer ruled in June that the contract between Williams and the club was valid, while also finding the Ticats breached the CBA by negotiating with an unregistered agent. Palmer stated that the penalty for such a breach is a fine, however, not a termination of the contract, as Williams and the CFL Players’ Association had requested.

The CFLPA has now asked that a court review that decision, a process that could take months and will likely extend well beyond the end of the current CFL season.

"The CFLPA's position is that CFL Clubs who negotiate with unregistered agents are at a distinct advantage inthose discussions, and are depriving the CFL Player involved, regardless of who the player is, of his right to berepresented by an agent who is familiar with the normal protocol of CFL Standard Player Contracts," the organization said in a release announcing the decision to appeal. "Innegotiating a player's rookie contract it is especially critical that CFL Clubs ensure that they are dealing with aregistered agent as required by the CBA to ensure that the player's rights are protected and that a finalcontract is in the player's best interests."

http://scratchingpost.thespec.com/20...-decision.html