Washington Stealth transition player Paul Rabil has been suspended for one game by the National Lacrosse League for a hit above the head against Garrett Billings of Toronto in last Friday’s 13-12 overtime loss.
Rabil was not called for a penalty during the game, the punishment was handed dow
n by the league Thursday evening after tapes were reviewed. The NLL deemed that a penalty should have been called during the game and it would have been a five-minute with a game misconduct, Rabil’s second game misconduct penalty of the year which requires a one game suspension.
The Professional Lacrosse Players Association will file an appeal on Rabil’s behalf Friday morning and Rabil will play in Saturday’s game against MInnesota at Comcast Arena. The PLPA will review the tapes and determine if they will go forward with the appeal some time this weekend. Going forward with the appeal would mean an arbitrator would decide if the suspension will be upheld or not and there is no timetable for how long the process will take. Any decision an arbitrator makes is final.
Stealth General Manager Doug Locker was optimistic about the situation.
“We feel very strongly that once the PLPA reviews the tape that they will mount a strong appeal on Paul’s behalf,” Locker said.
The risk for the Stealth is if the PLPA goes forward with the appeal and the arbitration process goes into the playoffs than Washington could lose Rabil for a playoff game.
Rabil has 42 points with 13 goals and 29 assists this season for the Stealth.
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