Fans outraged after CFL overrules COVID protocol for Bethel-Thompson, Argos
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A seemingly harmless trip to the Toronto Raptors game on Thursday appeared to have cost quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson his spot under centre for the Toronto Argonauts in their Eastern Final contest against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday.
The QB, who attended the game per request of the team, broke the CFL's COVID-19 protocols in doing so. His attendance at the game, by league rules, should have resulted in a four-game ban. Instead, the CFL decided to walk back its current protocol and devise a compromise.
Per a statement from the league, Bethel-Thompson will only have to quarantine for two days while taking a PCR test on Friday and Saturday while also taking a rapid antigen test on Sunday. If all tests return a negative result, he'll be able to play for the double blue.
These conditions also apply to four other members of the team — Dexter McCoil, Charleston Hughes, Llevi Noel and Jeff Richards — who attended the Raptors game with Bethel-Thompson.
This, as you can imagine, didn't sit well with CFL fans, especially those who root for the Ticats.
So TOR QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson and four teammates who attended the Raptors game will miss practises for 2 days but play in the East Final on Sunday, if all their COVID tests come back negative. Perfectly reasonable ruling by the CFL. The Argos deserve all the ridicule they get.
— Paul Friesen (@friesensunmedia) December 3, 2021
This is shocking, but the CFL bent the rules for Bethel-Thompson. Because Toronto. #bushleague #cfl
— Bob Curran (@takeittothenet) December 3, 2021
@RandyAmbrosie what’s the point of making rules if you’re just going to alter them to benefit the teams breaking them ? The Covid rules are in place for a reason right ? Fans can’t even attend with a rapid test, why can bethel thompson after breaking rules so clearly laid out ?
— Mat Heddle (@MatHeddle) December 3, 2021
That @CFL ruling on Bethel-Thompson is garbage. If he was the Ticats or another CFL team QB and did this, the CFL wouldn’t allow him to play. Rules are rules.
— David (@CaptainWreckus) December 3, 2021
Do I want Bethel-Thompson to play? Yes. Does he deserve to? Nope.
— Haley Rath (@rathh31) December 3, 2021
All five members of the Argonauts must clear the necessary hurdles to play, but the CFL has allowed all a chance to suit up and play for a spot in the Grey Cup.
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