Kelly: solutions will be found

THE upholding of the seven appeals from Dublin and Tyrone players by the Central Appeals Committee was clearly embarrassing for the GAA.

It meant that the offending players had got off “scot free after mass brawls,” said President Sean Kelly last night.

“Certainly it reflects very badly on the Association generally,” Kelly said. “A committee of very respectable people with great experience - including a solicitor - looked at the whole incident and dealt with it. And yet on appeal, technically they were found to be in breach of some regulation or other,’’ he said.

“It means that any incidents that may take place until this matter is clearly clarified cannot be dealt with (subsequently) unless the referee actually deals with them. That seems to be the message going out there, which is not a good one.’’

Mr Kelly said he had pointed out earlier in the week that the rules need amending and amendments will be coming before next month’s Congress. His hope is that this will lead to a “streamlining” of matters.

“It is important not just to streamline them from a legal point of view, but we also have to be conscious of the fact this is an amateur organisation where we are expecting volunteers to work. And where they see matters getting so technical that they get off on claims of this nature, it’s going to get people thinking and wondering should they get involved in this type of disciplinary action at all, when hours and hours of work can be upturned on a technicality.’’

It emerged that the CAC’s decision to overturn the bans was based on a technicality, and that the process followed by the CDC was not in line with the official rulebook.

The CAC felt that if the players had decided to take their appeals to the Disputes Resolution Authority, the CDC’s process would not stand up to scrutiny.

“It wasn’t any new evidence,” said GAA PRO Feargal McGill. “They (the CAC) weren’t confident that the procedures would stand up to the DRA examination. So it was abandon ship at that point.”

Tyrone manager Mickey Harte has welcomed the successful outcome of the appeals lodged by his players.

“I’m delighted for the players, because there was a lot of adverse press and innuendo directed towards them individually and Tyrone collectively. I think it was sometimes a little bit excessive. So I’m happy for those players that they’re not in the category that some would have portrayed them to be in.”

Meanwhile, it’s understood a report is to be compiled at Croke Park on the series of events which led to the suspensions imposed on the seven players being overturned, and sent to the GAA’s management committee.

The issue will be raised at annual Congress next month, where a number of motions will be submitted with a view to addressing potential loopholes in the rulebook.

Two high profile referees have expressed annoyance with the decision.

Wexford official Dickie Murphy felt the players who were suspended should have accepted their punishment.

“But you cannot fault them for appealing,” he said. “That option was always there and they were entitled to appeal. They found a loophole and exposed it.

“What kind of message does it send out? There was public outcry after what was seen on television, and now after being suspended for what they did, the players are free to play again. That cannot be right.

“You look at the case of a Chelsea player who was sent off last week for a reckless tackle. He said he was going to appeal it, but was told by the governing body on Monday that there was no appealing. You’re suspended and that’s it.”

Those sentiments were shared by another top referee, Brian White.

“It now looks like we as referees are not being supported by those in higher authority, and that has to be a big concern for all of us,” he said.

“What happens if there is a repeat of the Omagh incidents. Wouldn’t the GAA be a right laughing stock in the eyes of the public.”

“Looking back on those incidents, Paddy (Russell) should have abandoned the game and thrown the whole affair back into the laps of the GAA.