BY CHRIS MCNULTY
IN what is believed to be the first case of its kind in Donegal GAA, a club player has been given a proposed 24-week suspension because of comments posted on social media.
Sean MacCumhaills’ player David White, who plays football and hurling for the Twin Towns club, has been singled out over a comment following the Donegal SFC quarter-final between Ardara and Naomh Conaill.
In response to a message from the official Donegal GAA account which confirmed that the drawn quarter-final would be replayed that Wednesday night, White is understood to have posted a tweet that was critical of the decision not to play extra-time in the fixture.
The dual star is understood to have posted a similar message on Facebook and County Board chiefs have reacted by handing down the ban. It is likely that the sanction, believed by the relevant parties to be ‘extremely excessive’ will be appealed.
The decision to serve notice of a lengthy ban for social media comments will flash the alarm sirens around the county with club players’ social media activity under scrutiny.
GAA members had been warned by the Donegal County Board in August of this year that they could face disciplinary action over comments made on social media websites.
The secretary of the Donegal Co Board, Aodh Mairtín Ó Fearraigh, also issued an email to club secretaries at that time urging them to make their members aware of the GAA’s social media policies.
That letter outlined that all GAA members are encouraged to take part in social media but the Association expects each individual to follow the guidelines on using social media.
“I would ask all clubs to remind their members and players of the implications of referring to the GAA in social media when they do.
“Each member is to adhere to the GAA’s Official Guide and Club Constitution, as well as other applicable documents. All GAA members are subject to the GAA Code of Behaviour when online, even when they are not acting on behalf of the Association.”
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