Ireland selector Paddy Clarke has been suspended for five International Rules matches. This punishment is unprecedented in the history of the international series and relates to a confrontation between Clarke and Australian umpire Brett Allen after last Friday's first test at the MCG.

The matter clears up the lingering allegations in the local media that Ireland manager Brian McEniff had pushed the umpire and called him a cheat.

During the disorderly scenes, triggered by Australia's last score of the night - from a lineball taken after the full-time siren had sounded and when celebrating Irish personnel were still on the field - Clarke was found to have had physical contact with Allen and to have verbally abused him.

The decision was passed down by the series tribunal, comprising Andrew Demetriou and Richard Loveridge (not as stated yesterday Kevin Sheahan) from the AFL and the GAA's Pat Daly. They considered an investigator's report based on video evidence and interviews conducted on Sunday.

After a meeting at Colonial Stadium Melbourne, with stenographer, legal counsel and Australian media present, Clarke appeared and was told of his fate before the Irish travelling party left for Adelaide.

After last year's series, Australia's Jason Akermanis and Ireland's Peter Canavan were suspended for two matches and one match, respectively, after being sent off during last year's series in Dublin. It was noted in some circles yesterday that the disparity between Akermanis's ban for violent play and Clarke's suspension for more than twice that is anomalous.

Clarke admitted the charges, but said that the length of the suspension took him by surprise. He will miss this weekend's second test as well as - hypothetically given that his term is up this year - any involvement for the next two series in 2002 and 2003.

"The five matches shocked me. I knew when I came in after the game (last Friday), TJ Kilgallon said to me: 'you're shocking downbeat'. And I said, well I'm hollow for a start because of the simple emotion of the occasion and the absolute intensity of being in the box, which is an incredibly intense situation."

He recalled the incident from his perspective. "He'd come towards me and I was going to offer the benefit of my opinion - which was harmless to an extent. 'You didn't give us anything' or something like that, that was my remark. But everyone was calling him that (a cheat) and I probably joined in the chorus. I haven't a clue (what was said)."

The news reached the Irish camp before departure from Melbourne. Manager Brian McEniff gave his reaction. "He's a great guy and I'm very disappointed for him, but we have to accept the ruling. It might be a blow but I'd hope it would act as motivation and I'm confident the lads will react in a positive way towards it because he's a very popular man within the squad.

"It's a very severe ban. He only came on and put his hand on his shoulder - that happens with referees back home, but obviously they (the AFL) weren't happy about it and they're two-to-one on the commission although I don't know how that went.

"I saw the comprehensive document that was given to Paddy this morning before he went to the commission and you could see it was a cut-and-dried case. It was a done deal before he went in. He had no chance."

Anthony Tohill, captain of the Irish side, was very critical of Allen's performance at the press conference that followed the first test. His criticisms were widely reported in the Australian media. Tohill expressed the players' feeling about Clarke's suspension.

"We were disappointed with the severity of it and we feel for Paddy. He's put a lot of effort into the trip to ensure that we're as well prepared as we could be. We know that the suspension is not in anyway reflective of the character of Paddy Clarke. Unfortunately, that's the way it transpired, but anyone who knows him back home, knows the sort of fella he is. I didn't see the incident myself but I believe there's not much in it."

Controversy arose at the end of an AFL game during which attacks on umpires led to the suspension of three players. Attitudes to this offence in the AFL are so severe that it is even an offence not to make an effort to avoid contact with an umpire. Australia international Brent Harvey ran foul of the rule this season and was suspended for two weeks.

Clarke's suspension is an unfortunate conclusion to his two-year term as assistant to McEniff. The Irish manager pointed out that there is a need in the international game for experienced selectors to provide continuity just as John O'Keeffe has done this year. It is unlikely that Clarke will again be involved with the international project.

In the immediate term, his unavailability for sideline duty this Friday creates a problem for Ireland who will have to reshuffle resources to cover for Clarke who was responsible for co-ordinating the inter-change players during the tests.

Although very disappointed, Clarke said that he was looking forward to completing players' preparations for the weekend.

"There's a lot you could say, but it won't achieve anything. I've got to refocus fairly quickly and the more I concentrate on this, the less I'm concentrating on that. I have drills and training to organise. I can't get on to the bus, can't go into the dressing-room, can't go into the box. I hope I can go to the post-match reception when the game's over.

"I kept thinking about Ned Kelly, how in the 10 days between being caught and being hung his moods went all the way. My moods went all the way today but you have to end with words of Ned Kelly, 'such is life'."