A recent meeting of the Competitions Control Committee of Roscommon GAA has proposed a 96-week suspension for the individual involved, in an incident that left a Roscommon referee requiring medical attention at an underage game in the county.
Referee Kevin Naughton was officiating the U17 meeting of St Aidan’s and St Dominic’s in Ballyforan, when the alleged assault took place in the second half, an ambulance was called to the scene and the match abandoned.
Naughton was released a day later, but the suspension has been proposed after viewing the referee’s report.
Under GAA rules 48 weeks is the minimum suspension for a first-time offence under the ‘Any type of assault on a Referee, Umpire, Linesman or Sideline Official.’, a repeat offence carries the imposed suspension of 96 weeks.
Both St Aidan’s GAA club and the individual concerned have the right to contest the decision.
Diarmuid Kearney
Diarmuid Kearney is a freelance Sports Journalist based in Co Kerry. He has more than 5 years experience covering domestic and international soccer for different media organisations, while also working for local and national print and digital organisations covering GAA.