Sports
Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase issues public apology after costly suspension for spitting incident
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Ja’Marr Chase was unable to play for the Cincinnati Bengals, and he was apologetic on Monday as his one-game suspension for spitting at Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey came to an end.
Chase was suspended by the NFL after the spitting incident, which ultimately led to Ramsey’s ejection in the Steelers-Bengals matchup in Week 11. Ramsey punched Chase twice and was immediately sent to the locker room.
Chase denied he spat at Ramsey after the game, but video evidence proved otherwise. He appealed his suspension to the league, but it was ultimately denied.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Ja’Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates after a touchdown during an NFL football game Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium on Oct. 16, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Chase’s suspension also cost him a $14,491 fine and his game check of more than $500,000.
The superstar receiver issued an apology to fans, the Bengals, the Steelers and the entire NFL in an Instagram post as he heads into Week 12 — a Thanksgiving matchup against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night.
“Please know I am speaking from my heart when I say I take full responsibility for my actions during last Sunday’s game at Pittsburgh,” Chase wrote in a lengthy statement. “What I did was wrong. The circumstances don’t matter. My passion for the game is no excuse. There’s zero place in our sport — or in life — for that level of disrespect.
NFL SUSPENDS BENGALS STAR JA’MARR CHASE ONE GAME FOR SPITTING INCIDENT IN LOSS VS STEELERS
“I want to personally apologize to everyone within the Pittsburgh Steelers organization. I let my emotions in the moment get the better of me. I can only hope and trust you know none of it represents who I am — not as a competitor, teammate or person.”
Chase finished the game with just three catches for 30 yards, though Joe Flacco targeted him 10 times. It was a completely different outcome for the Bengals, who defeated their AFC North rival in Flacco’s first start at home following his trade from the Cleveland Browns. Chase had 16 catches for 161 yards and a touchdown on 23 targets in that game.
But as Chase pointed out in his statement, it has been a rough season for him and the Bengals.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (1) looks on after the game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High on Sept. 29, 2025. (Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
“This has been a tough season with some incredibly hard losses. We’ve all been frustrated,” he wrote. “But instead of stepping up with calm, class and leadership, I let you down. My having to sit out yesterday’s game makes my actions even more inexcusable. I won’t let it happen again.”
To close out his remarks, Chase apologized to his massive fan base.
“I do not take anyone who wears my jersey for granted. I do not take my position as a role model lightly. As someone who strives to lead with character and authenticity, I should have taken immediate accountability for what happened.
“I am committed to earning back your respect — not just with words, but with my actions, day after day, on and off the field. I promise to keep learning from this and to set a higher standard for myself moving forward.”
Fox One/Fox Nation special promotion. (Fox News)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The Bengals are 3-8 after their loss to the New England Patriots at home this past Sunday. They have lost seven of their last eight games, though some key help is expected to return on Thanksgiving.
Quarterback Joe Burrow, who has been out after foot surgery, is expected to return this week against the Ravens. He has been sidelined since Week 2, and he and Chase have shown tremendous chemistry on the field dating back to their time at LSU.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has identified a host of athletic competitions it classifies as “major sporting events” — aside from soccer’s 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games — that athletes and coaches will be allowed to travel to the U.S. to take part in despite a broad visa ban on nearly 40 countries.
In a cable sent to all U.S. embassies and consulates Wednesday, the State Department said athletes, coaches and support staff for the World Cup, the Olympics and events endorsed or run by a long list of collegiate and professional sporting leagues and associations would not be subject to the full and partial travel bans that apply to citizens of 39 countries and the Palestinian Authority.
However, the cable made clear that foreign spectators, media and corporate sponsors planning to attend the same events would still be banned unless they qualify for another exemption.
“Only a small subset of travelers for the World Cup, Olympics and Paralympics, and other major sporting events will qualify for the exception,” it said.
President Donald Trump’s administration has issued a series of immigration and travel bans as well as other visa restrictions as part of ongoing efforts to tighten U.S. entry standards for foreigners. At the same time, the administration has been looking to ensure that athletes, coaches and fans are able to attend major sporting events in the U.S.
Trump’s Dec. 16 proclamation banning the issuance of visas to the 39 countries and the Palestinian Authority had carved out an exception for athletes and staff competing in the World Cup, the Olympics and other major sporting events. It delegated a decision on which other sporting events would be covered to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Wednesday’s cable lists the events that are covered, including “all competitions and qualifying events” for the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Pan-American Games, and Para Pan-American Games; events hosted, sanctioned or recognized by a U.S. National Governing Body; all competitions and qualifying events for the Special Olympics; and official events and competitions hosted or endorsed by FIFA, soccer’s governing body, or its confederations.
The exemption also will cover official events and competitions hosted by the International Military Sports Council, the International University Sports Federation and the National Collegiate Athletic Association as well as those hosted or endorsed by U.S. professional sports leagues such as the National Football League, the National Basketball Association and Women’s National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball and Little League, National Hockey League, Professional Women’s Hockey League, NASCAR, Formula 1, the Professional Golf Association, Ladies Professional Golf Association, LIV Golf, Major League Rugby, Major League Soccer, World Wrestling Entertainment, Ultimate Fighting Championship and All Elite Wrestling.
The cable said other events and leagues could be added to the list.
Of the 39 countries, a full travel ban applies to Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mali, Myanmar, Niger, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Yemen, and people with Palestinian Authority-issued passports.
A partial ban is in place for citizens of Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Ivory Coast, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Togo, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
President Donald Trump will return to the sidelines Monday with Secretary of State Marco Rubio for the College Football Playoff championship in Miami, where the Indiana Hoosiers will face the Miami Hurricanes.
Trump’s expected attendance was first reported by Axios.
President Donald Trump, right, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attend an NFL game between the Washington Commanders and the Detroit Lions at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md., Nov. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Monday’s appearance at the national championship game marks another high-profile outing for the president, who has attended several major sporting events during his second term.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
In April, Trump sat alongside UFC President Dana White outside the octagon for UFC 314 in Miami and again two months later at UFC 316 in New Jersey. He also attended several events in September, including the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York and a New York Yankees game on Sept. 11, 24 years after the 9/11 attacks.
President Donald Trump waves to the crowd as he arrives on the first hole on the first day of competition for the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black. (Brendan Mcdermid/Reuters via Imagn Images)
TRUMP WARNS COLLEGE SPORTS ARE IN ‘BIG TROUBLE’ IN CRYPTIC POST
President Trump has taken a special interest in sports in his second term.
In December, he warned the current state of name, image and likeness (NIL) was not sustainable and could pose a threat to college athletics, especially sports outside of football. He has also made ensuring the fairness and safety in girls and women’s sports a top priority of his administration.
President Donald Trump attends the 126th Army-Navy Game between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore Dec. 13, 2025. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Top-seeded Indiana, led by Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, will take on Miami at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, Monday at 7:45 p.m. ET.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
In the latest gambling scandal to rock sports, a federal indictment accuses bettors and athletes of “point-shaving” in NCAA and Chinese Basketball Association games.
Source link
U.S. names sporting events athletes exempt from visa ban
Trump to attend College Football Playoff championship game in Miami with Rubio
Meta’s Layoffs Leave Supernatural Fitness Users in Mourning
-
Politics1 week agoUK says provided assistance in US-led tanker seizure
-
Entertainment1 week agoDoes new US food pyramid put too much steak on your plate?
-
Entertainment1 week agoWhy did Nick Reiner’s lawyer Alan Jackson withdraw from case?
-
Business1 week agoTrump moves to ban home purchases by institutional investors
-
Sports1 week agoPGA of America CEO steps down after one year to take care of mother and mother-in-law
-
Sports5 days agoClock is ticking for Frank at Spurs, with dwindling evidence he deserves extra time
-
Business1 week agoBulls dominate as KSE-100 breaks past 186,000 mark – SUCH TV
-
Business1 week agoGold prices declined in the local market – SUCH TV