Judge to hear case of Minnesota players barred from home stadium
The unusual case of the University of Minnesota football players barred from their home stadium by a restraining order could be resolved by next week.
In early September, the players faced a sexual assault allegation from a woman involved with game-day operations for the Golden Gophers.
KiAnte Hardin, Ray Buford, Dior Johnson and Tamarion Johnson were suspended for three games during an investigation. Carlton Djam and Kiondre Thomas were also implicated.
Ultimately, none of the men were charged, with authorities stating: “There is insufficient, admissible evidence for prosecutors to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that either force was used or that the victim was physically helpless as defined by law in the sexual encounter.”
The woman subsequently petitioned the court to have the players barred from her apartment and TCF Bank Stadium.
The court agreed to restrict five of them — not including Thomas — and they were forced to miss last weekend’s homecoming game against Rutgers.
With Minnesota playing at Illinois on Saturday, a Hennepin County judge has scheduled a hearing in the case for Nov. 2, the Associated Press reported.
That could resolve the matter before the Golden Gophers’ next home game against Purdue on Nov. 5.
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