GAA:The Armagh county board has backed down on the allegations of racism and sectarianism it levelled at Laois players earlier this week following their ill-tempered National Football League clash with Laois last Sunday.
The Armagh board released a strongly worded statement on Tuesday night in which it claimed captain Ciaran McKeever had been provoked prior to his red card while “racist and personal abuse” directed at their players was going unpunished.
It was claimed that taunts of “British bastards” and chants of “God Save the Queen” were among the insults used.
However, after a meeting brokered by the GAA with their counterparts in Laois earlier today, the Armagh board conceded in a joint statement that that those “allegations do not accurately reflect what occurred in O’Moore Park”.
The statement from both county boards read: “A meeting of representatives of Armagh and Laois County Boards took place today to discuss last Sunday’s Allianz League Football game in O’Moore Park, Portlaoise.
“It was agreed that allegations made by Armagh County Board in their statement do not accurately reflect what occurred in O’Moore Park. It is acknowledged by both Boards that inappropriate verbal exchanges took place between players during the game and this will be addressed with our respective panels.
“Both Laois and Armagh are committed to the playing of our games in the best possible spirit and look forward to the continuation of a keen, sporting rivalry.”