Gregory McCartan could miss up to three championship matches for Down after his appeal against a recent sending off was rejected last night.
The midfield star was dismissed for throwing the ball at Brian McGuigan after the Tyrone man had tripped him during last weekend's drawn Ulster football final.
McCartan attended a disciplinary hearing last night but the Games Administration Committee of the GAA upheld the referee's decision to red card him and rejected his appeal against a mandatory four-week ban.
He will not play in Sunday's final replay at Clones and could also miss the qualifier against Donegal - should Down lose to Tyrone - and a possible All-Ireland quarter-final.