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scuffle

GAA confirm they're investigating 'unsightly' tunnel incident between Dublin and Mayo

Players from both counties clashed as they took to the field in Croke Park last Sunday.

THE GAA HAVE confirmed they’re looking into the scuffles involving Mayo and Dublin players as they entered the field before Sunday’s All-Ireland final.

According to the match programme, Dublin were scheduled to leave their dressing room at 2.56pm, with Mayo set to follow two minutes later.

A delay in the arrival of Dublin pushed Mayo’s entrance back, resulting in both teams emerging from the tunnel at the same time. A number of players from either panel clashed as they emerged onto the pitch.

The Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) are looking into why the allotted times were not followed, according to the GAA’s Director of Communications Alan Milton.

“The CCCC are investigating, and we are awaiting Conor Lane’s (referee) report,” Milton told RTÉ 2FM’s Game On on Monday night.

“A fair degree of planning goes into scheduling who comes out when, as you would expect.

“I wouldn’t point the finger of blame at anyone as to why it happened until we’ve got the full picture in front of us. But once that happens you can rest assured it will be dealt with accordingly.

“I wonder do we need to have a discussion about two teams walking out on the field in an orderly fashion?” he continued.

“I don’t believe tradition in always a good enough excuse not to examine the other options in this case. Are you trying to tell me that teams that come out for AFL finals or other sporting events around the world are not equally charged and pumped for the game in question but can walk out side by side?”

Speaking about the incident after the game, Mayo manager Stephen Rochford said: “We were detailed to come out second.

“I think we went out a minute after we were supposed to. Just in case anyone is going to look into it: coincidental. Nothing went into it. These things happen, ye can nail that on the head.”

The CCCC are not expected to propose any suspensions but both counties could be fined if they’re found to be in breach of match-day regulations.

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