After Rob Ford stirred further controversy Thursday while wearing a Toronto Argonauts jersey, Canadian Football League Commissioner Mark Cohon strongly suggested the embattled mayor should stay away from Sunday’s playoff game between the Argos and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

“We believe it would be better for Mr. Ford to focus on his challenges right now,” Cohon said in a statement to the Star. “And the fairest thing to our athletes and fans would be to keep the focus Sunday on the game.”

The Argos will host the Ticats in the East Division Final Sunday afternoon at the Rogers Centre with a Grey Cup berth on the line. Ford has not been invited in any official capacity. “He may, of course, choose to attend on his own,” Cohon said.

The commissioner’s statement followed one released by the Argos themselves, in which the organization that once heartily embraced Ford’s support described the “situation with respect to the Mayor” as “unseemly at best.”

“These latest remarks, while wearing our team’s jersey, are particularly disappointing given our organization’s work in the community to help youth deal with issues of bullying prevention,” the statement reads. “We hope for the benefit of the wonderful citizens of Toronto and this great city that this situation is resolved expeditiously.”

Embroiled in an intensifying controversy regarding his substance abuse and behavior in office, Ford was wearing a blue Argos’ jersey Thursday morning when he made a crude reference to oral sex on live TV.

He also later admitted to reporters that he “may have” driven while intoxicated.

Ford, a diehard football fan who wore an NFL tie last week when he admitted to smoking crack cocaine, once enjoyed much happier times with the Argos. Last November he shared a stage with the team at Nathan Phillips Square following their Grey Cup victory parade, declaring “Toronto Argonauts Day” and receiving a kiss from defensive tackle Adriano “The Kissing Bandit” Belli.

But now it’s clear the team wants nothing to do with him.

Argos CEO Chris Rudge called Ford’s ongoing calamities “an unfortunate situation for the city.”

The coaches and players themselves were steering clear of the controversy.

“I’ve got no comment about that,” head coach Scott Milanovich said.

“I’ve just been hearing little things,” said quarterback Ricky Ray. “But I don’t even know what’s going on so it’s hard for me to comment.”

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Ford also said Thursday he would call Hamilton mayor Bob Bratina — though Ford pronounced the name as “Bob Britannia” — to “tell him we’re going to have to spank their little Tiger-Cats.”

Later in the day Bratina told members of Hamilton’s city council there would be “no participation” between him and Ford with regard to Sunday’s game.

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