Redblacks’ Habakkuk Baldonado incurs third fine for conduct against Elks, six others disciplined

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Ottawa Redblacks defensive lineman Habakkuk Baldonado sat out last week on the injured list, but that didn’t prevent him from being fined by the CFL.

On Thursday, the league announced that it had retroactively imposed a fine on Baldonado for violating the player code of conduct during Ottawa’s Week 6 loss to Edmonton. The Italian defensive lineman had already been fined twice for incidents in that game, incurring penalties for an obscene gesture made at the Elks bench and fans, as well as a headbutt against offensive lineman Jordan Murray.

The native of Rome arrived in Ottawa in free agency this offseason as the highest-paid Global player in CFL history and has since recorded five defensive tackles and one sack. He won a Grey Cup in 2025 with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

The CFL also retroactively fined Hamilton running back Larry Rountree III for a low block against Saskatchewan defensive lineman Desmond Evans in Week 6, while imposing supplemental discipline on five other players for actions in Week 7.

Montreal defensive back Lorenzo Burns was punished for a dangerous hit on Calgary receiver Clark Barnes; Montreal defensive lineman Kylan Guidry and Winnipeg defensive linemen Michael Fletcher were fined for high hits on quarterbacks Vernon Adams Jr. and Jake Maier, respectively; and Edmonton linebacker Jaden Pearson and Toronto linebacker Jalen Rayam were each docked for blindside blocks.

The CFL’s department of health, safety, and integrity manages league discipline involving fines. The committee includes chief football officer Greg Dick, vice-president of officiating Darren Hackwood, associate vice-president of football operations Ryan Janzen, and associate vice-president of health and safety Eric Noivo.

As per league policy, the league does not announce the dollar amount of fines, discipline related to dress code violations, discipline involving teams or staff, or discipline involving players who have been released. The maximum allowable fine under the collective bargaining agreement is half the value of a game cheque.