Ireland's International Rules assistant manager, Paddy Clarke, has been handed a five-match ban. The ban was imposed after an investigation panel in Australia found him guilty of pushing the umpire, after Friday's International Rules Test. The three-man panel, Andrew Demetriou and Kevin Sheahan of the AFL and Pat Daly of the GAA, viewed video footage, which they feel, proved that Clarke shoved umpire Brett Allen, after a controversial end to the first test.
The debate raged over the weekend, after Ireland went apoplectic following referee, Brett Allen's decision to award a late free to the Australians. While Ireland were celebrating their win, thinking the match was over, Australia took a quick free and scored a behind. That meant Ireland's win was cut down by a point, a decision that enraged the Irish management and players.
Newspapers in Australia had alleged that manager Brian McEniff had pushed Allen. But McEniff has denied reports that he pushed the referee. He said: "I went up to the umpire, as they refer to the referee over here, to question the decision. I was very irate, naturally enough, because I felt the game should not have proceeded with so many people on the pitch. I didn't get within two yards of him. It's alleged in some of the papers here that I pushed him. I didn't touch the referee nor did I refer to him as the papers alleged again as a cheat. It's a word I don't use."
The decision could spell the end for Clarke's involvement with the Irish side, as it rules him out until 2004. Clarke has managed Louth in the past.
Meanwhile, Dublin's Ciaran Whelan picked up a hamstring injury in training today, and is doubtful for the second International Rules Test on Friday in Adelaide.
Filed by John Raftery
