THE GAA'S central council has intervened over an attempt to stop a British Army GAA team from competing in the London Junior Championship this year.
The new Irish Guards club, Garda Eireannach, was narrowly cleared to join the GAA at a meeting of the London County Board in September, making it the first Army regiment to have an affiliated club in the association's history.
Now London hurling club Granuaile is seeking to exclude the Irish Guards team.
The club notified the London County Board of their proposal to 'rescind' the Guards' affiliation as a GAA club.
The proposal was due to be discussed at a meeting of the London County Board last night, but the GAA requested that the debate be delayed.
In a statement, the GAA said: "The GAA at central level has procedural issues with the suggestion that a club affiliation could be rescinded at this evening's meeting and has requested that any discussion or decision be put on hold until after scheduled meetings of management and central council this weekend".
Under the GAA's rule 21, British armed forces and police were banned from joining the association and playing Gaelic games for more than a century. The ban was eventually lifted in 2001.
When September's vote on whether to accept the Irish Guards' application was tied, then Chairman of the London County Board, Noel O'Sullivan, used his casting ballot to accept the new club.
Mr O'Sullivan was replaced as chair after John Lacey, from the Granuaile club, was elected to the position at the London County Board's annual convention last month.
Mr O'Sullivan said last night he was concerned the issue had been raised again.
"I am absolutely disgusted, I cannot believe it is happening. I am dumbfounded at how anybody could return this to the table after all that went on," he told the BBC.
"I felt last September that there was no need of a vote, because I can't think why a person's occupation should come in to you playing Gaelic football or hurling.
"I thought it was done and dusted at that time, last September, but it's been brought back again to rescind that decision.
"All it is doing as far as I'm concerned is damaging the image of the London County Board . The majority of GAA people in London are totally and utterly for it [the Guards' affiliation]."
