GLENTORAN vice-chairman Aubry Ralph has confirmed his club will appeal the eight-month ban imposed on midfielder Ryan Newberry.
Newberry was handed the season-ending suspension at an IFA Disciplinary Committee meeting on Wednesday night.
The ban relates to an incident in Macedonia when the midfielder was on international duty with the Northern Ireland Junior squad at the UEFA Regions Cup.
It was reported that Newberry broke a hotel window following an altercation with a team-mate and required 54 stitches as a result of injuries sustained.
And now the 22-year-old - who signed for Glentoran in the summer - has been banned from all competition until May 31 next year under Article 18 of the IFA’s Disciplinary Code which refers to General Discipline.
Glens vice-chairman Ralph told the News Letter yesterday: “The boy is devastated as football is his life.
“We just can’t understand the length of this ban.
“We certainly do not condone what happened in Macedonia, but we feel the penalty doesn’t fit the crime.
“There have been serious incidents involving the Northern Ireland senior team in recent years and nothing has happened. Now a young lad gets a eight-month ban?
“I was shocked when I discovered the ban on Wednesday night and I have already informed the Disciplinary Committee that Glentoran will be appealing it.
“We want to know the rationale behind this decision.
“We believe UEFA, who hosted the Regions Cup event, are investigating it also.
“We will have to wait and see what their findings are.
“We could accept if Ryan was banned from international or European competition, or both. But a blanket ban for eight months is crazy.
“We have high hopes for this kid. We signed him from Ards Rangers in the summer and he had better offers elsewhere.
“He is a Glens fan and wanted to come to the Oval and we were delighted to get him.
“Now this Disciplinary Committee has basically taken eight months out of his career - it is a massive blow for the lad.
“But we are gathering information and planning a rigid appeal.”
On Wednesday night Newberry said he was “shocked” by the committee’s decision.
“I am absolutely devastated because football is my life,” he added.
“I really don’t know if I will play football ever again.”