CROKE Park are likely to investigate reports that a Down footballer played in the recent National League tie against Monaghan while under suspension.
Newry Shamrocks forward Brendan Loughran was one of four players sent off in a tempestuous Down Division One clash against An Riocht on November 8. Loughran apparently thought he had been handed a two-week ban like the other three players sent off in the club match and thus missed the NFL game against Clare. However, it is alleged Loughran, in fact, received a four week suspension which should have ruled him out of the Ballybay contest against Monaghan on November 29.
Loughran played against Monaghan and hit two points in the narrow defeat. As Down lost the match, there is no question of the Mourne county losing any National League points if Loughran is indeed found to have played while under suspension.
However, Loughran himself could face a maximum six-month suspension for playing illegally even though the player was unaware he was breaking any rule. In theory, Down county chairman Kevin Bell and secretary Brian McAvoy could also face sanctions.
McAvoy said he was unaware of any rule breach yesterday while Donal McCormack, the chairman of Down’s activities committee which deals with disciplinary issues, had no comment to make on the matter.
However, it is known that the Down disciplinary body are looking into the matter and are likely to discuss the issue with McAvoy and Bell over the next 48 hours. Loughran was only drafted into the Down panel earlier this year and the match in question against Monaghan was his competitive intercounty debut.
Meanwhile, Down are certain to launch an investigation after the abandonment of Sunday’s Division One league tie between An Riocht and Mayobridge. Referee Hugh Pat McCusker reportedly called a halt to the crucial division one tie after fighting broke out between the players.
Both teams needed to win the match to maintain their hopes of qualifying for the Down league play-offs between the top four teams. An Riocht were leading at the time of the abandonment. Activities chairman Donal McCormack said last night that he could make no comment on the abandonment as he hadn’t yet received the referee’s match report.
THE future of Celtic’s runaway striker Marko Viduka remained shrouded in mystery yesterday as the Scottish champions were warned to pay his transfer fee to Croatia Zagreb or face the consequences.
Parkhead managing director Fergus McCann is currently taking legal advice over whether his club are obliged to pay the full £3million fee after the Australian’s disappearing act over the weekend. They are also contemplating suing the player himself after he rejected Celtic’s overtures to stay in Glasgow and returned to Zagreb on Sunday night complaining of depression and a need to rest from football.
Despite Viduka’s agents claiming he was heading home to Australia to recuperate before a return at a later date, McCann has already voiced his fears that the player’s psychological problems may prevent him ever kicking a ball for the club.
But Croatia Zagreb president Zlatko Canjuga yesterday insisted he was expecting the full amount negotiated for Viduka’s transfer regardless, given his status as an officially registered Celtic player. He told a Croatian publication: “Celtic know they have to honour the agreement and by Wednesday they have to make clear how they will meet our demands.”
Mandic said the striker, who has dual Australian and Croat nationality, is suffering from emotional burn-out and has struggled to cope with the training on his first full day at Celtic last Thursday. He also suggested that any Parkhead return will now depend greatly on how sympathetic the club are to his plight.
“At this point he has no desire to play on,” said Mandic. “It also depends on Celtic now – they have the final say. It depends on how understanding they are.”
