Referee Brian Gavin James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

LEADING HURLING REFEREE Brian Gavin has been handed a proposed one-month ban as a result of comments he made to a match official after a recent Offaly club game.

The Midland Tribune has reported the news ahead of Sunday’s All-Ireland senior hurling semi-final between Kilkenny and Waterford, which Gavin is set to referee.

Gavin is set to launch a defence after the suspension was proposed by the CCC of the Offaly county board.

The incident in question happened after a recent Offaly junior club match between Gavin’s club Clara and Kilclonfert at the end of July.

But Gavin will be free to referee the clash between the Cats and the Deise in Croke Park on Sunday.

He is eligible to take charge of games until a decision is made on his appeal and is not expected to appear before the Hearings Committee this week.

If Gavin loses his appeal, he will be unable to referee games for one month which would prevent him from taking charge of the All-Ireland senior hurling final on 6 September.

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