A GAA umpire who was suspended for racially abusing a player during a Wexford junior football game has said his comments were a “slip of the tongue”.
St Joseph’s Club wrote to Wexford GAA asking them to investigate comments by the umpire Alex Ryan (73) to one of their players, Eddie Lawlor.
County chairman Diarmuid Devereux said the complaint was investigated by the Wexford Central Competitions Control Committee, which imposed a 26-week suspension. However, he said Mr Ryan had already resigned from all GAA activities in the county.
Mr Ryan, from the Oylegate Glenbrien club, said yesterday he would not appeal. “It does not matter to me now for I’ve resigned from the association. During my 38 years acting as an umpire at all grades of hurling and football I have received lots of abuse and name calling, like all umpires and referees, and nothing has ever been done about it,” he said.
“It was a slip of the tongue. I hold no bitterness . . . I will accept the suspension. I will not be appealing. I am finished with the GAA after a lifetime of service.”
Mr Lawlor (32), who played junior football for Wexford this year, said he has been the victim of racist comments for many years. “I have been used to this my whole life,” he said. “I just put up with it and said to myself that they’re ignorant people.”
The incident follows a similar investigation earlier this year into the racist abuse of Wexford senior footballer and hurler Lee Chin. Mr Chin, whose father is Malaysian and who plays senior football with Wexford club – Sarsfields, was abused during his club’s clash with Duffry Rovers. Two Duffry Rovers players were banned for two months each.