PORTADOWN keeper Michael Dougherty is facing a lengthy ban for knocking a ball-boy to the ground during Thursday's CIS Cup clash at the Ballymena Showgrounds.
Dougherty received a straight red card after apparently pushing the 12-year-old while retrieving the ball at the side of the pitch during the 1-0 defeat to Ballymena. Referee David Best said he had sent off Dougherty for "violent conduct", an offence which carries an automatic ban of up to four games.
But the Mirror understands the Premier League is prepared to treat the incident as a "special case" and will decide the full nature of the punishment after taking comments from Dougherty and his club. A longer ban could be meted out when the league's next disciplinary committee meets on September 12.
Portadown and Dougherty will be given 14 days to make statements, so it's a possibility that the matter may be dealt with at the league's following meeting in mid-October.
Dougherty, who joined Portadown from Lisburn Distillery in the summer, insists he didn't knock the boy over deliberately. "Anyone who knows me knows that's not in my nature," he said. "I am regretful that it happened, but my studs slipped on the gravel (at the side of the pitch) and I bumped into the young lad. The boy's parents were angry, and rightly so, but I am willing to meet them to apologise."
It is understood police are investigating the incident.
