Referees' union wants NFL to take action for Harbaugh lowering face covering
NFL Referees Association executive director Scott Green called on the NFL to take action against Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh after he lowered his face covering during a heated on-field discussion with officials during Monday's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
"Under the current COVID-19 environment and protocols we are dealing with, it was completely out of line for coach Harbaugh to remove his mask and verbally confront our official," Green said in an email sent to Troy Vincent, NFL executive vice president of football operations. "His behavior was in direct violation with the statements and instructions the league has made in an effort to ensure the safety of players and officials.
"Even more troubling are the public comments made by coach Harbaugh following the game downplaying the incident."
John Harbaugh about to fistfight this ref has been my mood all 2020 pic.twitter.com/ENRaKPkc8a
— Slightly Biased (@BiasedSlightly) September 29, 2020
Green added any similar actions moving forward should fall under unsportsmanlike conduct and subject to a penalty.
Harbaugh confronted officials about a tripping penalty on Ravens tight end Nick Boyle.
"I don't think there is anybody better than us, me, or our staff, from the beginning of the game to the end of the game," the head coach said postgame regarding not having his mask on during the incident, per ESPN's Jamison Hensley.
The NFL attempted to curtail the lack of consistent mask usage on sidelines around the league by handing down $1.75 million in fines to teams and coaches after Week 2.