BYRNE HIT BY FRACAS BAN

WARRENPOINT TOWN have four days to decide if they will appeal a three months suspension imposed on their goalkeeper Mark Byrne following a recent Irish Cup fracas at Milltown.

Byrne has been banned for six months by the Irish FA, three of which are suspended for 18 months, after being found guilty of “bringing the game into disrepute”.

The teenager was red carded after finding himself involved in an altercation with away fans near the end of the sixth round tie with Ballymena United on February 1, below.

Warrenpoint were also fined £250 while Ballymena were hit with a £750 fine after both were found guilty of “spectator misconduct”.

A Ballymena statement noted the club and its fans had been “totally exonerated.. in relation to unfounded allegations of sectarianism”.

It had been claimed by Warrenpoint that Town shot stopper Byrne had been the subject of “sectarian verbal abuse”.

The Milltown board will discuss the ruling internally and make a decision on their next move in due course, with Byrne’s suspension due to commence on Monday.

In an official statement, Ballymena said: “Whilst the club accepts the sanction, we reiterate the IFA’S determination that there was no case to answer in relation to alleged sectarianism.”

The IFA’S disciplinary committee took action after reviewing the incident which marred the final stages of Ballymena’s 2-1 Irish Cup win over