CFL fines Blue Bombers kicker Sergio Castillo for criticizing microchipped footballs

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This article was published 22/06/2024 (484 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The CFL is making Sergio Castillo pay for speaking up.

It was announced Friday that the Winnipeg Blue Bombers kicker was fined $250 for the comments he made about microchipped footballs following Week 1’s 27-12 loss to Montreal where he uncharacteristically missed a pair of field goals and a one-point convert.

The CFL started using footballs this year that have computer chips inserted inside to gather statistical data for TV broadcasts as part of the league’s relationship with Genius Sports. Kickers like Castillo tried out the balls in camp and found it made the ball’s flight unpredictable. They also noticed that it caused bruising to the kicking foot.

Despite the negative reviews, the league made the kickers use the chipped balls anyway and when the opener went the way Castillo feared it would, he gathered reporters at his locker to speak out.

“I knew if I spoke out there was a chance that I might get hit with a fine. It’s out of my paycheck now, so, we’re moving on,” said Castillo after Friday night’s 26-24 loss to the B.C. Lions. The veteran kept his comments brief this time in fear of getting docked by the league again.

The CFL ended up listening, as soon after they sent out a release announcing kickers and punters can now go back to normal footballs during games. The topic will be revisited in the offseason as the league believes testing shows that the chips don’t impact the balls in any way.

Fellow kickers Brett Lauther (Saskatchewan), Lewis Ward (Ottawa), and Sean Whyte (B.C.) backed Castillo online. The CFL fined them for violating the league’s social media policy.

“We all knew going into this there might be a chance, and we took a hit, but I think collectively, we’re getting what we want,” said Castillo.

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

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Taylor Allen
Reporter

Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor.

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