Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson denied that he refused to attend a scheduled disciplinary hearing with the NFL, claiming the league is being unfair and violating the collective bargaining agreement.

ESPN reported Saturday that Peterson failed to attend Friday’s hearing, which is different and considered more significant than the conference call scheduled for 2 p.m. ET Monday in which Peterson’s grievance related to his being on the commissioner’s exempt list will be heard.

The Friday meeting would have determined Peterson’s discipline from the league going forward related to his child-abuse case.

Peterson released a lengthy statement through the NFL Players’ Association Sunday, responding to the league’s claims that he refused to show up for Friday’s meeting.

“The report that I backed out of a meeting with the NFL is just not true,” Peterson said. “When Roger Goodell’s office asked that I attend the ‘hearing’ on Friday, I consulted with my union and learned that this ‘hearing’ was something new and inconsistent with the CBA.

“On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of this past week, my union sent emails, letters, and had conversations with (Goodell’s) office on my behalf asking about the nature of the hearing, how it was to occur, who would participate, and its purpose. We repeatedly asked them to respond quickly to my questions because I want to cooperate and get back on the field, but they didn’t respond until late Wednesday evening, and even then they didn’t answer important questions about their proposed ‘hearing.’

“After consulting with the union, I told the NFL that I will attend the standard meeting with the commissioner prior to possible imposition of discipline, as has been the long-term practice under the CBA, but I wouldn’t participate in a newly created and non-collectively bargained pre-discipline ‘hearing’ that would include outside people I don’t know and who would have roles in the process that the NFL wouldn’t disclose.

“At this point, I’ve resolved my matter in the criminal court; I’ve worked to make amends for what I’ve done; I’ve missed most of the season, and I stand ready to be candid and forthcoming with Mr. Goodell about what happened. However, I will not allow the NFL to impose a new process of discipline on me, ignore the CBA, ignore the deal they agreed to with me, and behave without fairness or accountability.

“The process they are pushing is arbitrary, inconsistent, and contrary to what they agreed to do, and for those reasons, I never agreed to the hearing. I’m sorry for all of this, but I can’t excuse their refusal to be fair.”

The NFL could still make a ruling on Peterson’s future discipline this week.

The Friday meeting would not have nullified Monday’s grievance hearing.

Peterson has not played for the Vikings since Week 1 but is being paid his full salary — $11.25 million for the 2014 season — while away from the team.

On Nov. 4 in Montgomery County, Texas, Peterson pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor assault charge, was placed on probation and ordered to pay a $4,000 fine. The charge was reduced from felony child abuse for an incident in which Peterson admittedly used a tree branch to whip his 4-year-old son.