Federal Magistrate Fines NFL for Violation in Antitrust Case

MINNEAPOLIS — A federal magistrate on Monday fined the NFL $15,000 for violating a court order in connection with the antitrust trial brought by eight players.

U.S. Magistrate Floyd Boline’s order won’t be final until District Judge David Doty rules on it, perhaps as soon as Wednesday. Boline’s ruling came during a closed hearing.

Doty ordered the hearing Thursday after lawyers for the players protested the use of some evidence during the testimony of NFL official Neil Austrian. According to informed sources and information presented at the trial, the ruling comes in connection with financial information asked for by the players but not provided by the league.

Among the documents introduced Monday by the players was a team-by-team financial breakdown for 1990. According to that document, the New Orleans Saints were the most profitable team in 1990, reporting profits of $14 million. The San Francisco 49ers were the least profitable, reporting a loss of $8 million.