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(AP) - A federal judge has sided with NFL players and granted their request for a preliminary injunction to

lift the lockout.U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson issued her ruling late Monday.

The ruling gives the players an early victory in their ight with NFL owners over a new collective bargaining agreement in

the $9 billion business.

Owners imposed the lockout after talks broke down on March 11 and the players disbanded their union.

The players say the lockoutis causing irreparable harm to their careers.

A group of playersfiled the injunction request along with an antitrust lawsuit against the league.

The owners argued it was their right to institute the lockout. They are expected to appeal Nelson's ruling.