Ray Rice was terminated from the Baltimore Ravens following the release of a video of him punching his then-fiance.

On Monday, September 8, professional football player Ray Rice had his contract terminated by the Baltimore Ravens following the release of a video of Rice hitting his then-fiance. Rice was then given an indefinite suspension from the National Football League, as reported by The New York Times.

However, the domestic violence incident highlighted in the video (Note: this video contains footage of domestic abuse. Please watch at your own discretion.) occurred in January of 2014, seven months ago. Why has it taken so long for Rice’s suspension to become a reality?

In May, Rice issues a formal apology at a press conference and in July, shortly before N.F.L. training camps opened, commissioner of the league, Roger Goodell handed Rice a two-game suspension for his actions. These were his only punishments until Monday.

Commissioner Roger Goodell had not seen the video of Rice before he handed out the two-game suspension.

Commissioner Goodell had the opportunity to prove that the N.F.L. would not tolerate violence – domestic or otherwise – in the league, but instead he took a gamble and swept Rice’s actions under the rug, which I think shows poor business ethics. It’s not money laundering or a scandal, it’s simply a business refusing to stand up for what’s right.

Goodell’s plan backfired in such a manner that he is now having to deal with a new challenge: convincing fans and casual viewers that the N.F.L. is a company that takes morals seriously and will not tolerate acts of domestic violence. In conclusion, this is an example of how good business ethics could have saved a company from a loss of revenue and customers.