The National League's disciplinary committee has run into its first difficulty of the new season with four players referred to this week's meeting as a result of incidents in recent games allowed to go unpunished as a result of uncertainty concerning the rules.

While Shelbourne's Pat Fenlon reportedly contested the fact he had been, as alleged, sent off after the home match against Finn Harps the week before last, other players apparently questioned the role of the fourth official in the action taken against them.

A league official yesterday declined to comment on the precise dispute involved in the cases of Fenlon, Richie Foran, Colin O'Brien of Cork City and Bray Wanderers' Maurice Farrell but said the matter was to be the "subject of further investigation". This, it seems, will consist of obtaining clarification on when and in what circumstances a referee is entitled to take advice concerning disciplinary matters from a fourth official.

While the cases of those four players were dismissed, Aaron Moroney of Waterford United and Glen Smart of St Francis were both suspended after both were sent off during the sides' meeting. St Francis manager Jimmy Harte and Kilkenny City boss Pat Byrne both received warnings.