McGill penalized for football hazing incident

McGill University and its football team were punished on Monday in connection with a hazing incident this season.

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The school was fined $30,000 and its football team banned from having any home games televised in 2006 or 2007 after the university withdrew the Redmen from league action over the incident.

The football squad also is banned from hosting a Quebec conference playoff game in 2006, the Quebec Student Sport Federation announced Monday.

The team will also be on probation for one year.

McGill officials cancelled the last two games of the football team's 2005 season on Oct. 18 in the wake of a report that confirmed a hazing incident known as Dr. Broom.

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An 18-year-old rookie alleged he was sexually assaulted with a broomstick by a veteran player while others looked on and cheered. The rookie filed a complaint and left the university shortly afterwards.

The $30,000 fine includes reimbursement of the expenses and loss of revenues of universities affected by McGill's withdrawal, as well as additional production costs caused by the change of venue of an Oct. 22 televised game.

with files from CP Online