TWO FOOTBALLERS from the Duffry Rovers GAA club have been suspended for eight weeks after being found guilty of racially abusing Wexford underage dual player Lee Chin.

The incident took place in a club match on April 20th with the disciplinary hearing taking place on May 23rd. The information only came into the public domain yesterday. The Wexford CCCC were not willing to release the banned footballers’ names, charged under rule 1.12 of the GAA Official Guide:

“The association is anti-sectarian and anti-racist. Any conduct by deed, word or gesture of a sectarian or racist nature against any player, official, spectator or anyone else, in the course of activities organised by the association, shall be deemed to have discredited the association.”

“In that rule it recommends that you deal with it under rule 7.2 (e), which is discrediting the association,” explained Wexford county board secretary Margaret Doyle. “The minimum suspension for conduct discrediting the association is eight weeks.”

On receipt of match referee Brendan Martin’s report, the Wexford CCCC launched an investigation, asking for full co-operation from both clubs and individuals involved. There was no fine for the Duffry Rovers club as they co-operated fully with the investigation.

It is understood Martin was quite specific in his report about the racism remarks passed by a Rovers player and a substitute.

“Racism is something that will not be tolerated within Wexford GAA,” said Wexford county board chairman Diarmuid Devereux. “That was also reflected in the way both clubs dealt with the matter. Both clubs accepted that that kind of behaviour cannot, and will not, be accepted within Wexford GAA.

“The CCCC had a difficult task. They have dealt with the matter fairly and showed racism will not be tolerated within our association.”

“Lee Chin is a Wexford man, born in Wexford, living in Wexford, educated in Wexford, and working in Wexford. He is one of our stars of the future. Hopefully many more will follow his lead . . .”

Chin has played both minor hurling and football for Wexford, progressing to the under-21 panels in both codes this season and played for Wexford’s senior team in the recent win over Longford.