Quebec minister supports axing of McGill football season
Last Updated: Wednesday, October 19, 2005 | 3:43 PM ET
CBC Sports
Citing a hazing incident, McGill cancelled the rest of the Redmen football season on Tuesday.
Fournier says it's a severe but necessary measure.
"It's tough for the players, it's tough for McGill, it's tough for the other teams. But it's good for McGill, it's good for football, it's good for every sport, just to remind us that sport is good, and should be played with ethics, and values," Fournier said Wednesday.
Fournier acknowledges the removal of the McGill Redmen from the league leaves a hole in the schedule for other teams, but he says it's a temporary measure that should help clean up the game.
School officials announced Tuesday that a four-week investigation uncovered hazing rituals performed during "rookie night" on Aug. 27.
"Hazing is based on humiliation and degradation," said McGill's interim provost Dr. Anthony Masi in a statement.
"It has no place at McGill. It will not be tolerated in any form.
"No excuses. No exceptions."
Although the investigation report will not be made public because "it contains confidential information," Masi confirmed that "despite the fact that all athletes signed commitments that they would not engage in hazing and despite warnings from the coach that inappropriate behaviour would not be tolerated, activities were planned and carried out, in clear violation of the rules."
Officials from Canadian Interuniversity Sport concurred with Masi.
"We absolutely respect the decision McGill took as a university," CIS spokesperson Michel Bélanger said. "There is a lot more serious stuff still at stake than a couple of football games."
McGill's investigation was launched after an 18-year-old rookie lodged a complaint, alleging he was sexually assaulted with a broomstick by an upperclassman as teammates cheered him on.
"The hazing was organized as a team activity by veteran players and a large majority of team members participated," Masi said in his statement.
"Consequently, the team, as a whole, is being held responsible, regardless of varying degrees of blame that may be attributed at the individual level."
Masi revealed that the evidence showed "the event did involve nudity, degrading positions and behaviours, gagging, touching in inappropriate manners with a broomstick as well as verbal and physical intimidation of rookies by a large portion of the team."
Disciplinary action is pending yet "confidential, according to McGill's policies and procedures." The Redmen were 1-5 this season and were scheduled to challenge top-ranked Laval this weekend.
with files from Canadian Press
