Croker deny blackballing Fox for not seeing red

GAA chiefs have denied official Pat Fox has been sidelined from refereeing matches for refusing to upgrade a yellow card to Tyrone’s Ryan McMenamin against Donegal last month.

The Westmeath referee hasn’t been appointed by the Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) to preside over a league game since that Division 2 round two game in Omagh on February 19, his second appointment in the competition after taking charge of the Laois v Meath game.

It is understood Fox was asked by the CCCC to review video footage of an incident involving McMenamin and Donegal’s Paddy McGrath — when the Tyrone player appeared to stamp on his opponent — but elected to stand by his original decision.