Paul Curran, the Dublin half back, has been suspended by the Games Administration Committee (GAC) of the GAA for 12 weeks following an incident in a National Football League match between Dublin and Offaly on November 2nd.

The decision was made at the GAC meeting in Croke Park on Monday night and announced officially yesterday.

Curran was called to the GAC meeting and, although a video tape of the match was available, it did not play any part in the committee's decision. Officials from both the Dublin and Offaly county boards were questioned by the GAC about the incident. Curran was not sent off during the match and it now appears that the decision was made on the basis of eye-witness evidence. The referee on the day, Paddy Russell from Tipperary who is one of the most experienced in the game, consulted his linesmen and umpires after Offaly player Finbar Cullen fell and lost three front teeth in an off-the-ball incident. No player was booked on that occasion and the referee's official report reflected that state of affairs.

The GAC's statement read: "Following a meeting of the Games Administration Committee in Croke Park, it has been confirmed that Paul Curran of Dublin has been suspended for three months (12 weeks) from the date of the last game in which he played (30/11/97). The suspension arose out of an incident in the Dublin - Offaly Church and General National League game played on November 2nd."

Although the Dublin County Board is understood to be unhappy with the handling of the matter, it is not likely that Curran will appeal against the decision since it comes at a very slack time in the GAA year and will not have any substantial effect on Curran's club or county availability. Meanwhile, one of the most respected referees in the country, Paddy Collins from Westmeath, has criticised what he believes is a lack of support for referees by those who administer the games within the association.

Collins, who refereed several matches at the highest level, including All-Ireland finals, has, in his capacity of secretary of the Westmeath County Board, called for a central refereeing authority for all senior championship and league fixtures. In his annual report, he says: "It is intolerable when forces charged with upholding the disciplinary rules of the association are eroding the confidence of referees. "It would seem sensible and long overdue to have one authority responsible for all matters pertaining to the training, grading and appointment of referees."

The problems which have arisen in Carlow because of a dispute between the county board, the supporters' club and the inter-county players will get a full hearing tonight when all club chairmen, secretaries and county board delegates meet in the Royal Hotel in the town at 8pm.

The meeting has been called by the supporters' club and may represent the first step towards the solution of the problem, which has already caused the postponement of the National League match against Mayo when all the members of the senior county panel indicated to the county board that they were not available to play .