‘For Johnson to stand on the rostrum and accept the trophy in the memory of one of our greatest sportsmen, Cormac McAnallen, was a national insult to Ireland’

TWO of the leading figures in the GAA are opposed to continuing with the International Rules Series unless and until the Australian Football League consents to a more disciplined approach and to the adoption of a new regulation that would properly penalise players who are red-carded.

Ulster Chairman Micheal Greenan, "horrified" by what went on in the second test here last weekend, feels that "they cannot continue" in the present set-up. Munster Council Chairman Sean Fogarty agrees that with without a change of heart on these fundamental issues they will be left with no choice but to abandon the series.

Both men were members of the official party which accompanied the Irish squad to Australia, (being joined by two other members of the Management Committee, Jimmy Treacy from Fermanagh and veteran Waterford representative Seamus O'Brien). In separate interviews yesterday, each voiced serious concern about the issues raised by what Mr Greenan described as "the thuggery" in the second test and about what must be done if the two bodies are to maintain their relationship.

While the Munster Chairman remains committed to the series, he made it clear that he would only support it on the basis of certain conditions being met by the AFL.

"The spirit of sport definitely took a severe battering last Friday night with the conduct of a number of the Australian players. If the series is to continue we'll have to have a serious look at a couple of issues, mainly discipline,'' he said yesterday in Melbourne.

Greenan remarked that after viewing a re-run of the game over the weekend he was even more disgusted by what the Irish players were subjected to. "We all talk about "hard men," but hard men would have no place in what we saw. That was downright thuggery of the highest order."

It was "illogical" that the Australian co-captain Chris Johnson could be replaced after his "act of thuggery", he added, and it annoyed him that he was able to take a full part in the presentation. "For him to stand on the rostrum and accept the trophy in the memory of one of our greatest gentlemen and sportsmen Cormac McAnallen, was a national insult to Ireland,'' he stated.

In Sean Fogarty's view the fact that he took a full part in the ceremony was "pathetic" and sent out "very wrong signals" to anybody involved in sport at any level.

Criticising the "lack of discipline" in the game and the absence of a suitable punishment for any player red-carded, the Ulster chairman said he was concerned about much more than the specific incident where Johnson "took out" three players. "I saw a lot of incidents off the ball, where our players on the ground were assaulted and there's no other word for it. There were tackles made with the open fist.

"It's not about being competitive. We all agree there is a place for strong players and a place for weak players, for players with ability and pace, in our game. But that's not the case there. A good man can be taken out and he can be 'taken' off the ball.

"At one stage the (Australian) goalkeeper was tackled in possession and he drew back with his fist and struck. Some of the things that went on were horrific. Pete McGrath was right when he said his players were risking life and limb to go out and play there. To me sport is sport and when it gets beyond the realms of sport it's time we have to look at it.

"We have to have clearly defined rules on what you cannot do and they have to be implemented. And there has to be penalties. A rule with 'no teeth' is not a rule at all because if people flout it or disobey it, nothing happens.''

The two chairmen also agree that as long as the Australians can play football like they did in this series, the GAA players have no advantage. In effect, there is no longer "a compromise on the other side,'' said Mr Greenan.

Praising the home players for "superb" handling of the round ball, Fogarty agreed that they could teach the Irish players "a thing or two." However, while the use of the ball from the beginning of the series was the "one big concession" to the GAA, he felt that "all the odds were now stacked" in Australia's favour because of having mastered it. And, they certainly gained an advantage from being able to replace Johnson with a fresh player after his dismissal."

Additionally, he feels that the tackle needs to be redefined. The one used in Australian football would be "perfectly acceptable" to him. There was "none of this going in late" and tackling the player when he has the ball released, he explained. And "grounding" a player and trying to "get in a couple of punches" was not allowed in their game.

"I feel if we can redefine the tackle and can have stricter disciplinary measures, we'd be going a long way.''

Mr Fogarty added: "All we are looking for is sporting rules. It's only a game at the end of the day and our players have to jobs to look after. Tom Kelly had to get up early on the morning after the match to go home because he's a self-employed man.

"He seemed to singled out for attention in both tests and he could have been going home with a broken jaw or a dislocated shoulder. I think we have got to eliminate that and if we can I would still persevere with the series. If we can't, I think we'll have to think seriously abut abandoning the series.''