McAteer banned for three matches

THE WORST came to the worst yesterday for Jason McAteer when he was banned for three games and fined 2,000 Swiss francs by FIFA's disciplinary committee.

It follows his dismissal in injury time from the Republic of Ireland's game against Macedonia in Skopje four weeks ago for lunging at Mitko Stojkaski with both feet off the ground.

It led to a charge of violent conduct, one of the more serious in football, by the Italian referee Alfredo Trentalange. To that extent, the ban is in line with expectations.

In addition to today's game in Bucharest, it will keep him out of the meetings with Liechtenstein (May 21st) and Lithuania (August 20th).

It was the first sending-off of his career for McAteer but given the mood of FlFA's officials in their crackdown on dangerous play, there was no leniency for the Irish man in Switzerland yesterday.

"It's sad for Jason in the sense that he had an exemplary record before this incident," said Mick McCarthy. "And the foul was not nearly as nasty as it appeared to those watching on television.

"Although we now have more depth and strength in the squad than for some time, it isn't easy to replace a player of his experience and to that extent, it's a bad blow.

"I haven't yet had an opportunity of speaking with the player, but I know that he, too, will be disappointed that he is now out of international football until we go to Iceland in September," said McCarthy.

Meanwhile, Liverpool manager Roy Evans yesterday backed Republic of Ireland defender Phil Babb, insisting his player did not go missing over the weekend.

Babb had been called up by Mick McCarthy as a late replacement for the trip to Romania, but efforts to inform him of this failed.

But Evans yesterday absolved Babb of any blame for the communications breakdown Evans said: "He was given the weekend off by us after being left out of Ireland's original squad.

"He may have decided to go away for the weekend, which he is perfectly entitled to do. Is he supposed to sit at home 24 hours a day waiting for the Irish FA to ring?

"They should have made contingency plans if players haven't turned up because of injury or whatever.

"The onus was not on Phil, it is wrong that he should be shouldered with any of the blame."