HEADACHE FOR THE CCC

Investigation underway into abandoned game

WICKLOW GAA are currently conducting an investigation after last weekend’s SFL Division 1 game between Tinahely and Rathnew was abandoned early in the first half.

It is understood that the game was abandoned by referee Pat Dunne due to health and safety concerns, however allegations of racist abuse surfaced immediately after the game on the Rathnew GAA Club Twitter account which Tinahely GAA Club have taken issue with.

The game was an ill-tempered one from the very start with six yellow cards and two red cards (both second yellow offences) being shown by the Hollywood official in the 16 minutes the game lasted.

Rathnew GAA Chairman Bobby Dignam said that he was disappointed by the scenes that took place, but that he was satisfied with the way that Dunne had managed the situation, remarking: ‘The referee had no alternative. He did what was right by calling the match off.

‘We have no problem with the referee calling the match off.’

After holding an emergency club meeting on Sunday night, Tinahely have taken issue with the accusations that were made on social media following the game.

Tinahely GAA Club Chairman Patrick Murphy said that the players and officials had insisted that they had not said any form of racial abuse, before condemning any such discriminatory behaviour.

‘We held an emergency meeting on Sunday night at 8.15pm in the clubhouse and we went through the match with the players and officials, and we asked each and every person there if they said or heard any racist remarks to any player or official, and under no circumstances did any Tinahely player or official make any such remark, and we are standing behind that completely.

‘We do not tolerate behaviour like that in our club,’ he added

The incident has now been referred to the Competitions Control Committee (CCC), which will investigate the matter in question with the aid of the referee’s report which was received on Monday and any video evidence from the game in question.

The CCC will then be tasked with deliberating and recommending if any subsequent action needs to be taken.