National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman has insisted that players will always be held accountable should they breach code of conduct rules.

Bettman's comments were made in light of the recent controversy surrounding the NFL, whose commissioner Roger Goodell has come under criticism for the league's handling of Ray Rice's domestic violence case.

The Baltimore Ravens running back was issued with an indefinite ban earlier this month after CCTV footage emerged in the public eye of the sportsman knocking out his then-fiancee in a casino lift.

However, it has been reported that the NFL were given a copy of the footage three months before its release into the public domain.

While speaking at a luncheon for the Canadian Club of Toronto, Bettman said: "Our code of conduct is we expect you to do the right things and if you don't we hold you accountable. More important than that is I believe you need to be proactive."

Bettman also revealed that hockey players have been educated on domestic violence for the last 10 years.