15-game ban against goalkeeper quashed

THE Fermanagh and Western League’s disciplinary committee has quashed the 15-game ban handed down to Irvinestown Wanderers goalkeeper Ben Thompson.

Thompson had been suspended for an alleged push on referee David Hamilton during a Division One game between Irvinestown Wanderers and Beragh Swifts at the Bawnacre last month but that decision was subsequently appealed by his club.

At last week’s Fermanagh and Western meeting Irvinestown were found guilty of causing the abandonment of the game and subsquently fined £200.

But Wanderers always denied that Thompson had pushed the match official and all the parties were asked to appear before the league committee last month.

The referee in question chose not to participate in any further investigation by the governing body and on Monday evening the disciplinary committee, having reviewed the case, decided to quash the ban.

Thompson did serve an automatic three-match ban follwing the incident.