THE manager of a local soccer team was ordered away from the pitch after an eagle-eyed referee spotted him smoking on the sideline.

Joe Price, who manages Torro United adults' team in the Meath and District League, saw red after lighting up twice as he watched his charges take on Duleek in Co Louth last Sunday.

The bizarre dismissal came after the manager was first given a verbal warning. Then, when he fired up another cigarette, he was given his marching orders.

Joe Price told the Sunday Tribune: "I smoke and have been smoking for about 25 years. I'm not proud of it and I wouldn't try to justify it.

"About 10 minutes into the game, the referee came over to me and he said: 'Joe, you cannot smoke here.' But I have been in this league a long time and I had never heard the like.

"I threw away the cigarette and just ignored him and walked off. I forgot all about it and towards the end of the first half, I lit up again.

"The referee came over to me and said: 'Joe, I told you not to smoke.' I said to him: 'Is that all you have to worry about?' I said: 'There's nothing wrong with it. It is not in the rulebook.' But he said that I had to go."

The Torro United manager walked off and stood behind a boundary fence surrounding the pitch, from where he was still able to watch the game.

As the game drew to a close, he moved back towards the pitch but this time resisted the urge to puff on a cigarette and was allowed stay on the sideline.

Price said: "I am managing fully grown men and am not exactly a bad influence. If they actually make the rule, I would have no problem with it.

"I go to Croke Park for matches; you can't smoke there and I don't. If they want to make the rule, then they should go ahead and make it."

The game ended in a 3-1 defeat for Torro United. The match referee was unavailable for comment when contacted by the Sunday Tribune.