10 Irish sports scandals which rocked the nation

Analysis: from kidnapping and riots to fights and arrests, here are 10 scandalous moments from Irish sport which kept us all agog

Scandals can be created out of fairly routine occurrences in sporting events of great significance. They can transform what should be celebrated sporting achievements into shameful moments that are remembered for all of the wrong reasons. From kidnapping to riots, from fights to arrests, here are ten scandalous moments in Irish sport.

In December 1938, the GAA removed the President of Ireland Douglas Hyde as patron of its organisation. The reason for this? The President had attended an international soccer match between Ireland and Poland at Dalymount Park. This, GAA central council decided, was in breach of rule 27 (also known as "the ban"), which prohibited members of the GAA from playing games or attending functions organised by those promoting four named "foreign" sports: rugby, cricket, hockey and association football.

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From RTÉ Archives, RTÉ News report on the inauguration of Douglas Hyde as Ireland's first president in 1938

The incident sparked uproar around the country, with stormy local meetings, angry letters to newspapers and division within the GAA. Eventually in 1945, the GAA accepted that the President of Ireland should be able to attend all sporting events and Rule 27 was revoked in 1971.

Shergar was the greatest racehorse of his day. He won the Irish Derby in 1981 and the Epsom Derby by 10 lengths, making him one of the most