Updated at 23.04
A WOMEN’S NATIONAL League game was abandoned today after a heated dispute arose between referee Chrissie Buckley and DLR Waves manager Larry Mahony.
Mahony’s side were playing Cork WFC at Turners Cross, with the hosts leading 2-1 at the time.
A source told TheScore.ie that a dispute arose after Buckley repeatedly told Mahony and his management team to stay in their dugout and not leave their technical area, rather than sitting on a nearby wall as they had been doing.
After he ignored her instructions, Buckley then threatened to report Mahony, and the manager was understood to have responded: “Fine, report me.”
Buckley then ordered the manager to leave the field and go back to the dressing room, but the DLR coach again refused.
The referee consequently decided to leave the field and departed from the stadium shortly thereafter, despite both managers’ attempts to speak to her and dissuade her from abandoning the game.
It has yet to be announced what steps will now be taken in relation to the fixture.
There is the possibility of the game being replayed, though it is understood that Cork are hopeful of receiving a walkover, given that they were leading at the time the incident occurred, albeit with only 35 minutes played.
An FAI statement released this evening added: “The FAI will await the referee’s report into the incident and the matter will be addressed by the disciplinary committee.”
