CFL to monitor social media posts of newest Saskatchewan Roughrider Khalif Mitchell
Riders criticized for adding Mitchell to practice roster after anti-Semitic comments in 2015
The CFL is keeping a close eye on the newest Saskatchewan Roughrider, Khalif Mitchell.
The league released a statement on Thursday responding to concerns over Mitchell's social media posts, after he was added to the Saskatchewan Roughriders' practice roster a day earlier.
"There is absolutely no place in our league for commentary used to divide or disparage people on the basis of their religion, race, gender or sexual orientation," commissioner Jeffrey Orridge said in a statement.
Orridge said any "inappropriate" commentary could result in immediate dismissal for the defensive lineman.
"Such commentary not only may bring the CFL into disrepute; it can promote hate today and dishonour all those who have been subjected to hate over the course of history."
In 2015, as a member of the Montreal Alouettes, Mitchell was fined for posts which included a link to a Holocaust denial video.
Mitchell apologized and was eventually released by the team.
But the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs made a statement on Wednesday saying the player has continued to make controversial posts.
"Clearly, Mitchell has not learned from his past mistakes," said CIJA CEO Shimon Koffler Fogel.
"We have engaged with the CFL and the Saskatchewan Roughriders and they have assured us they are investigating."
It appears the league has received the message.
"Since Mitchell has now returned to our league, with another club, his new employer [the Roughriders] has reached out to the league office to assure us they too take this matter very seriously and any such inappropriate behaviour from Mitchell will result in his immediate dismissal," Orridge said in a statement.
The statement goes on to say that the league will "monitor any commentary" Mitchell makes as a member of the CFL.
"We fully acknowledge that our employees, including our players, have a right to hold and express opinions. But in absolutely no circumstance do we condone activity or comments that are derogatory or inappropriate. Such comments, which put the league's reputation as a progressive and positive member of the community in question, will not be tolerated," the statement reads.
The CFL has a social media policy which encompasses players, team and league employees and prohibits them from "using social media, including the retweeting or reposting of someone else's comments, to condone discrimination, harassment or violence."
Mitchell responds
Mitchell was asked about his beliefs after practice on Thursday.
"I just think a lot of the reaction was based off a lot of misinterpretations about myself that were far-fetched. A lot people look at me as someone the media portrayed as an anti-Semitic type of person. All I was doing was finding my own Hebrew Semitic backgrounds and my own source of where I'm from."
Mitchell said he's not worried about the league's statement and to lessen the distraction he said he decided to make his Twitter account private.
"At the end of the day, it's something I went ahead and talked to coach Jones about," Mitchell said.
"Football is what I'm here to do and if that was something that Jones sees may be a distraction. I agree with him. Me and coach Jones have a nice history. When I played with him (in 2013) I was an all-American all-star."
Jones addresses controversy
The man responsible for bringing Khalif Mitchell to Riderville, GM and head coach Chris Jones said he has received emails from groups expressing concerns. Jones said he had a "really good hour-long conversation" with the CIJA.
"If there's anything that's said then Khalif won't be here," Jones said.
Jones confirmed that he asked Mitchell to make his Twitter account private.
"I've had Khalif on our football team in Toronto and he did an outstanding job for us and he didn't have a single bit of trouble for us ever."
Worth the risk?
Sportsnet CFL reporter Justin Dunk said the signing "shocked" him. Not only because of Mitchell's reputation off the field but because of his time away from the field.
"Especially when you look at it from a football perspective, Khalif Mitchell hasn't played in a little while and from the Riders perspective they are trying to build a team for the future," said Dunk.
Mitchell last played in 2014 registering nine tackles and one sack in 13 games.
If there's anything that's said then Khalif won't be here.- Chris Jones, Riders' head coach
"And then when you consider some of the comments he's made about various groups and races on Twitter and fined for that when he was with Montreal. It just sort of compounds my shock."
He was signed to a three-year contract by the Alouettes in February 2015 but was released in June, a month after he tweeted a link to the Holocaust denial video.
"They're [Riders] looking for any possible way to make this team better and I think that's been proven with a lot of the moves that they've made. They're always constantly at work."
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