Sean Kelly has called for life bans to be issued to anyone found to have assaulted a match official.

The former GAA president was speaking after a Dublin minor hurling league game between Naomh Fionnbarra and Clanna Gael Fontenoy was abandoned on Sunday after an umpire was allegedly struck.

"It's intolerable, and while the GAA - and particular an Uachtaráin - have expressed their condemnation of these incidents, it’s obviously not getting through to everyone," he told RTÉ Sport.

"I think it’s time now for zero tolerance, particularly in ensuring that number one, the individual involved is given possibly a life ban.

"Secondly I think clubs have to take responsibility. They have responsibility for their supporters… and they’ll have to bear the brunt as well if one of their supporters commits an offence like this.

"Thirdly, these incidents should probably be dealt with at central level rather than local or county board level. At least then I think then you’d get an opportunity to show an intent from the GAA to stamp this out once and for all."

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