Kickers Sergio Castillo, Brett Lauther, Sean Whyte and Lewis Ward were fined by the CFL on Friday after publicly speaking out on the leagueB次元官网网址檚 use of chipped footballs on field-goal attempts.

Castillo took issue with the chipped balls in the Winnipeg Blue BombersB次元官网网址� season-opening 27-12 home loss to the Montreal Alouettes on June 6. Castillo, who made over 90 per cent of his attempts in 2023, missed two of three field goals he tried in the game as well as a convert.

Afterwards, Castillo contended the chips B次元官网网址� which collect statistical data for the CFL B次元官网网址� impacted the ballB次元官网网址檚 trajectory and made it difficult for kickers to do their jobs.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 know where to aim,B次元官网网址� Castillo told reporters after the game. B次元官网网址淓very time IB次元官网网址檓 out there, IB次元官网网址檓 literally praying the Rosary.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 know where to aim.B次元官网网址�

Lauther, Whyte and Ward all took to social media to come to CastilloB次元官网网址檚 defence. Shortly afterwards, the CFL said there was no evidence the chips negatively impacted the balls but did amend its rules to allow teams to determine before games whether their punters and kickers would play with chipped footballs or those without chips.

The league put microchips into its footballs this season to help generate real-time advanced statistics. It did so in some games last year, but none were used in kicking situations.

But the league will continue using microchip-implanted balls this season and revisit their usage before the 2025 campaign.

On Friday, Castillo was fined for violating the CFLB次元官网网址檚 code of conduct. Lauther, Whyte and Ward were all disciplined for breaching the leagueB次元官网网址檚 social media policy.

Ottawa punter Richie Leone was also fined, but for a B次元官网网址渢ourist hitB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� a type of unnecessary roughness foul B次元官网网址� on Winnipeg defensive back Marquise Bridges in the RenegadesB次元官网网址� 23-19 win June 13.

Saskatchewan defensive lineman Micah Johnson was disciplined for contravening the CFLB次元官网网址檚 code of conduct and verbally abusing an official in the RidersB次元官网网址� 33-30 road win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday night.

As per league policy, the amounts of the fines was not disclosed.

The Canadian Press