DUBLIN face further fall-out from last weekend's Leinster Under-21 Championship fracas with the news that All-Ireland medallist Jason Sherlock yesterday lodged a letter with the county board complaining about the alleged behaviour of a Dublin official during the Dublin-Offaly match.

The incident complained of was not connected with the riot on the pitch which involved players and substitutes from both teams; it is alleged to have taken place before that outbreak of disorder. Sherlock and the official had an altercation on the touchline during which the player alleges he was spat at.

Sherlock is a member of the under-21 panel but has not been available for the championship matches to date because of his scholarship commitments with UCD. Last Saturday, although not togged out, he was on the sideline with the Dublin substitutes.

Dublin county secretary John Costello said yesterday that the board had "absolutely no comment to make" on the subject. Nonetheless the county board will be anxious to deal with the matter as quickly as possible and it is believed that Sherlock's letter will be considered at a meeting of the county's management committee tonight.

The letter also refers to witness evidence as the incident is alleged to have taken place in front of the Dublin dug-out. If Sherlock's complaint is upheld, the consequences for the official could be serious with his resignation likely to be sought.

Neither Sherlock nor the official were available for comment last night.

Meanwhile the disturbances at the match itself come under the microscope at tonight's meeting of the Leinster Council in Portlaoise. The report of Longford referee Frank Toher has been received and its consideration will set in motion whatever action the council will take.

Four players were sent off during the match, three from Offaly and one from Dublin although one of the Offaly players had been dismissed before the fracas erupted. The involvement of Dublin's manager Dave Billings in an incident on the pitch just before the outbreak will be considered inasmuch as it is detailed in the referee's report. Billings had to be escorted from the ground for his own safety by gardai after the match.

No action will be taken tonight as the Council will have to deliberate before calling witnesses and taking any disciplinary action. Video evidence will also be considered if available. A Dublin video was shot, but is believed not to include the scenes under consideration.

Another video, an amateur hand-held recording, is believed to be in Offaly and to be available. If so, it would form part of the evidence to be considered by the Council which has dealt with video evidence in the past.

The matter is a great embarrassment for the GAA in Leinster and comes just a week after last week's Leinster colleges' final, between St Patrick's Navan and St Mel's of Longford, which ended in Mel's coach Declan Rowley making a complaint to the gardai after being injured in an incident involving a Navan player.