The National Football League Players Association wants a federal judge in Minneapolis to hold the league in civil contempt of court for the handling of the disciplinary matter involving Minnesota Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson.

The NFLPA filed the 24-page document Tuesday, requesting a hearing in front of U.S. District Court Judge David Doty.

The union accused the league of defying Doty's order from earlier this year "as if it were a meaningless scrap of paper" because of its recent discipline of another player.

Doty ruled in February that the league's retroactive application of a new disciplinary policy to Peterson's case was a violation of the league's collective bargaining agreement with the players. Peterson was disciplined by the league after he pleaded guilty and was convicted of negligently injuring his 4-year-old son by hitting him with a switch in spring 2014.

The NFLPA cited the April suspension of Dallas Cowboys player Greg Hardy for domestic violence as reason for the contempt filing. Like Peterson, Hardy was punished under a disciplinary policy that wasn't in place when his incident occurred.

The NFL has appealed Doty's ruling to the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, but briefs are still being filed on that matter and a hearing hasn't been scheduled.

An NFL spokesman said there is no basis for the union's action because of the appeal. He said Peterson has been reinstated and can fully participate in team activities. "The remaining disciplinary issue concerns the amount of 2014 pay to be forfeited by Mr. Peterson, and that issue is presently before the Court of Appeals," the spokesman said.

Rochelle Olson • 612-673-1747 Twitter: @rochelleolson