NBA refs want NFL to punish Dak Prescott for comments about fans behavior following wild-card playoff loss

The National Basketball Referees Association want the National Football League to discipline Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott for comments he made following his team's NFC wild-card playoff loss at home against the San Francisco 49ers.

From their official Twitter account, the NBA referees said Tuesday they condemn "the comments by Dak Prescott condoning violence against game officials," adding that he should "he should know better," while encouraging the "NFL to take action to discourage this deplorable behavior in the future."

Prescott praised fans who threw debris onto the field following the Cowboys' 23-17 loss to the 49ers. The Cowboys, who were the league's most penalized team during the regular season, were flagged 14 times during the game.

Prescott said that he was disappointed in the fans over their behavior, but when he was told the trash throwing was aimed at the game officials and not the team, he quickly changed his tune.

"Credit to them," he said.

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"The fans felt the same way as us," Prescott added. "I guess that’s why the refs took off and got out of there so fast. I think everybody is upset with the way this thing played out.”

Prescott later apologized in a post on social media and said he regretted the comments about the officials.

"I was caught up in the emotion of a disappointing loss and my words were uncalled for and unfair," he said. "I hold the NFL Officials in the highest regard and have always respected their professionalism and the difficulty of their jobs. The safety of everyone who attends a game or participates on the field of a sporting event is a very serious matter."

The NFL or its referees have yet to address the issue.