Duffy wants match-ban system

GAA chiefs are in favour of introducing match bans to replace the controversial time-based suspensions.

Referring to a “clear imbalance” in their disciplinary system, Director-General Páraic Duffy notes in his annual report that out of 68 suspensions of four weeks or more handed down at inter-county level in 2009, 18 players never missed a game as there was no next game in the competition to apply it to.

More pertinently, out of a group of 16 players who received eight-week bans, four missed no game while one player was “unfortunate” to be ruled out of five games.