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23rd Apr 2015

NFL star suspended 10 games, set to lose $5.7m after domestic violence punisment

Greg Hardy will miss the bulk of 2015/16

Patrick McCarry

Dallas Cowboys have got one competitive game out of Greg Hardy since he was signed from the Panthers.

The NFL has announced Wednesday that the Dallas Cowboys defensive has been suspended without pay for the first 10 games of next season for ‘conduct detrimental to the league’.

According to the organisation, the decision came following a two-month investigation by the league into Hardy’s domestic violence incident last year involving ex-girlfriend Nicole Holder. T

A legal case against Hardy was dismissed in February but the NFL investigators believe he is guilty of at least four cases of domestic violence against Holder.

If Hardy’s appeal fails, he will not be eligible to return to action until the Cowboys play the Panthers, his former team, on Thanksgiving weekend.

An NFL statement reads: ‘The investigation concluded that Hardy violated the Personal Conduct Policy by using physical force against Nicole Holder in at least four instances.

‘The net effect of these acts was that Ms. Holder was severely traumatised and sustained a range of injuries, including bruises and scratches on her neck, shoulders, upper chest, back, arms and feet. The use of physical force under the circumstances present here, against a woman substantially smaller than you and in the presence of powerful, military-style assault weapons, constitutes a significant act of violence in violation of the Personal Conduct Policy.’

The Cowboys, due to protection written into their contract with Hardy, do not have to pay him $5.7m in wages and bonuses if he misses all 10 games.

Hardy missed 15 games for the Panthers last season, before moving to Dallas.