Nine players face wrath of GAA

GAELIC GAMES/Central Disciplinary Committee Tyrone v Dublin: After an anxious wait for the past 10 days, Dublin and Tyrone are now facing the wrath of the GAA's Central Disciplinary Committee (CDC).

Nine players were yesterday charged after the mass brawls of their opening football league match in Omagh last Sunday week, all of which are accused of conduct considered to have discredited the association. Four of the players face additional charges of misconduct on the field of the play.

Both county boards have also been charged with discrediting the association, while Tyrone have also been asked to identify the team official involved in an incident with a Dublin player - clearly referring to the verbal altercation with Dublin forward Alan Brogan, which led to another of the ugly brawls early in the second half.

The nine players charged were named in a brief statement issued by the CDC yesterday - four from Tyrone, and five from Dublin.

Tyrone's Ryan McMenamin, Michael McGee, Owen Mulligan and Kevin Hughes were all charged under Rule 140 of the Official Guide, which refers to conduct discrediting the association.

In addition, both Mulligan and Hughes have been charged under Rule 138, which has several subcategories covering misconduct on the field of play.

Dublin's Bryan Cullen, Ciarán Whelan, Kevin Bonner, Alan Brogan and Peadar Andrews were also all charged under Rule 140, while both Cullen and Andrews face additional charges under Rule 138.

The players concerned have three days to request a personal hearing, in this case at the close of business on Friday, and both county boards indicated last night that personal hearings would almost certainly be requested.

In the meantime, the CDC have scheduled their next meeting for this Saturday in order to cater for those personal hearings - but also to consider the likely penalties. The minimum suspension for conduct considered to have discredited the association (Rule 140) is eight weeks, or a fine in the case of the county board. Suspensions for involving Rule 138 include eight weeks (for abusive language or conduct), 12 weeks (for striking or kicking), and even 48 weeks (for any type of assault).

It means the players charged could be out of action until April 9th at the earliest, and if the stiffer penalties are imposed then they'll miss the remainder of the national league. Whatever penalties are handed down will take effect from their last match, and with the exception of Tyrone's Michael McGee, all those charged played in the second round of football league matches last Sunday.

Dublin's Bryan Cullen has a crucial Sigerson Cup match this afternoon for Dublin City University against Garda College and he is free to play, but the two respective managers - Dublin's Paul Caffrey and Tyrone's Mickey Harte - could soon find themselves without several first choice players for the closing rounds of the league.

Central to Saturday's personal hearings will be the nature of charges applied under Rule 138, which carries the potential for such lengthy suspensions. The GAA's press spokesman Danny Lynch expanded on the CDC's course of action.

"Right now they're not stating precisely what the players are being charged," said Lynch. "There is a whole range of charges under that rule, including striking, of course. So right now these are the only charges and no penalty has yet been imposed, because under rule they are entitled to a personal hearing before you impose a sanction.

"The players have three days to request a personal hearing, but if they decide not to do that then the penalties under those rules will be imposed. But then there is also the facility to appeal after that. The two county boards have also been charged as well, and it's up to the CDC what course of penalties that includes. But certainly there could be a suspension involved for the individual from Tyrone who has been summoned."

The CDC first examined the report of the match referee Paddy Russell last Wednesday, then appointed a sub-committee of three CDC members to review all the available video evidence.

That sub-committee presented their findings at last Saturday's meeting, and then stepped aside while the remainder of the committee decided what charges to pursue.

"They've spent a considerable amount of time going through the evidence," added Lynch, "including, of course, video evidence. Probably with a fine comb. That took a bit of time. And normally there wouldn't be statements like this, naming the players, until such time as a penalty has been imposed. But because of the public interest on this it was decided a statement would be released."

Earlier this week Tyrone county chairman Pat Darcy was critical of the CDC's slow reaction in naming the players to be charged, saying the "intense media speculation and accusation is not discouraged by the length of time the CDC is taking in reaching conclusions on the their video evidence".

Now that the players have been named the likely defence mechanisms will begin, starting at Saturday's personal hearings.

Considering the potential for lengthy suspensions it's inevitable appeals will be submitted to the Central Appeals Committee (CAC), and after that possibly to the Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA) - all which suggests that the controversy will run for several more weeks.

In the meantime, the CDC is also set to examine the report of referee Michael Meade following another melee at the end of Derry's football league match against Wexford last Sunday.

Busy times in the GAA's disciplinary world.

Sanctions

What players can expect

Rule 138 (Misconduct on field): Includes 138.1 (A) Interference by player or official with a referee, umpire, linesman, sideline official or opposing team official. For interference that comes under the category of abusive or threatening language the minimum suspension is eight weeks. Also 138.1 (B) This covers striking with hurley, head, kicking or stamping and can carry a suspension of 12 weeks.

Rule 140 (Disciplinary Jurisdiction): The minimum penalty for conduct considered to have discredited the association, which is a catch-all provision, is eight weeks suspension.