Paul Galvin will have his case reheard by the Central Hearings Committee (CHC) "as soon as possible" after the Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA) last night found "procedural irregularities" in the handling of his case.
The Kerry captain will remain suspended pending the outcome of the second hearing despite the DRA stating it had "quashed the decision" of the CHC to ban the player for six months.
The statement released last night read: "The DRA Tribunal which sat on the 15th and 21st (of) July, 2008, had quashed the decision of the Central Hearings Committee (CHC) made on the 23rd (of) June 2008 in respect of Mr. Paul Galvin.
"Whilst Mr. Galvin accepted that an incident happened on the 15th (of) June, 2008, which warranted the commencement of disciplinary proceedings, the DRA Tribunal is of the view that procedural irregularities occurred at the CHC hearing on the 23rd (of) June, 2008, which were in breach of his right to fair procedures and to a fair hearing."
The statement added that the matter should be "re-heard by a newly convened and differently constituted CHC as soon as possible", and that "Galvin remains suspended in the interim period and is not eligible to play Gaelic games until the disciplinary process has been concluded."
Galvin was banned for 24-weeks after he slapped the notebook from referee Paddy Russell's hand when he was shown a second yellow card in the Munster semi-final against Clare.
He then proceeded to voice his disagreement before running to do likewise to the match linesman, despite the efforts of his team-mate Tomas 'O Se to restrain him.
The ban ruled Galvin out for the entire championship.
The Kerry captain had two separate hearings with the DRA in the last week. The first began last Monday and went through to 2.30am the following morning without a satisfactory outcome.
The three-person subcommittee of the DRA reconvened on Tuesday and last night's outcome has merely drawn out an already laborious process. The ruling also highlights the flaws in the GAA's regular disciplinary process.
It remains unclear what the irregularities identified by the DRA were or when the second hearing can commence.
Kerry are in action again when they face one of the winners from round two of the qualifiers over the August Bank Holiday weekend.
