MLBUA Joins Officiating Unions in Support of NFLRA

After the NFL fired down judge and former baseball umpire Hugo Cruz in the middle of football season, the MLB Umpires Association (MLBUA) joined the National Basketball Referees Association (NBRA) and Professional Soccer Referee Association (PSRA) in defense of the NFLRA and the league's "knee-jerk reaction" in dismissing an official during the season.

In a statement from former NFL referee and NFLRA executive director Scott Green, the union said it will fight the league's move: "The NFLRA will protect the collectively bargained rights of all officials and will challenge this reckless decision through the Grievance process."

Our football officiating counterparts at FootballZebras.com were the first to report on the NFL's termination of down judge Hugo Cruz (94) on October 25.

The joint statement, released by the NBA refs, is as follows:

The recent actions by the National Football League (NFL) in suddenly dismissing an official in the middle of the season is an affront to all professional officiating. As the standard-bearers of the integrity in our respective sports, the National Basketball Referees Association (NBRA), the Major League Baseball Umpires Association (MLBUA) and the Professional Soccer Referee Association (PSRA) support the National Football League Referees Association (NFLRA) in their challenge of the reckless decision made by the NFL.

When a league takes the extraordinary and unprecedented step of dismissing an official in the way the NFL did, it undermines the credibility of the game itself. The NFL sought to garner a hollow public relations victory at a time when trust is essential, if the ultimate goal is to work together to improve officiating. The disregard for the due process rights of the person involved is hurtful to him and his family.

This knee-jerk reaction by the NFL resulted in the unfair dismissal of an official who met the requirements to work in the playoffs in two out of his first three full seasons in the league. It is an example of mismanagement that results in a loss of trust among other professional officials.

We stand in solidarity with the NFLRA today, and every day, and for the rights of the expert officials in all sports, who protect the integrity of the game.