Ireland’s International Rules assistant manager, Paddy Clarke, has received a five-match ban after an investigating committee ruled he had pushed an official at the end of Friday’s test match.
The three-man committee - Andrew Demetriou and Kevin Sheehan of the AFL and the GAA’s Pat Daly - suspended Clarke having reviewed video evidence of the game in which it was alleged an Irish official pushed Australian umpire Brett Allen when he awarded the home side a free kick after the final hooter.
Clarke’s future on the international stage may come to a somewhat premature end as a direct result of today’s suspension. He is now banned for the next two series, meaning a return to the Ireland setup would not become an option until 2004.
Irish players had momentarily cut short their victory celebrations to race back to the goal area and defend Stuart Maxfield’s kick. He scored a one pointer ‘behind’ to reduce Ireland’s winning margin to six points.
Under Australian AFL rules, a player may take a kick after the hooter sounds if awarded it on the sound of the siren. But a player in a GAA match is not permitted to play on after the referee sounds the final whistle.
It had been alleged by an Australian newspaper that Ireland manager Brian McEniff had pushed the referee. McEniff was quick to deny such allegations declaring that although some members of the Ireland squad had been incensed with the referee’s decision, no physical contact had been made.
The ban is effective immediately and Clarke will play no part in Friday’s final test match in Adelaide.
Meanwhile, Dublin star Ciaran Whelan pulled a hamstring in training today and is doubtful for Friday's match. Niall Buckley and Dermot McCabe sat out the session to rest their respective hamstring and ankle injuries.