Carrick Rangers goalkeeper Jack McIntyre is being investigated by police after allegedly ‘assaulting’ a young ballboy during a match.
Reports state that he is currently under investigation by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) following an incident during a match against Cliftonville on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at Solitude.
The incident, which took place in the first half, involved McIntyre, allegedly pushing a Cliftonville ballboy to the ground while attempting to retrieve a ball for a goal kick.
Video footage captured by BBC Sport NI, as seen below, shows McIntyre, taking a ball from the ballboy with his right hand and then appearing to shove the youngster with his left, prompting outrage from the home crowd.
McIntyre was part of Man City, Everton and Sunderland’s youth set up, then played at senior level for Sunderland, Radcliffe, Larne, Accrington, Dartford and Ayr.
Jack Mcintyre ladies and gentlemen 🐀 pic.twitter.com/SoPvVtGfm3
— Cliftonville Central (@RedsCentral1879) March 22, 2025
@Cliftonville187 Not a good day for Carrick Rangers keeper Jack McIntyre. pic.twitter.com/EnaAW0NRop
— Damien (@Solitudekop) March 22, 2025
The PSNI has confirmed they received a report of an assault at the football match in the Cliftonville Street area of north Belfast and stated that “enquiries are ongoing.”
Although the referee, Mark Dillon, took no action against McIntyre during the game, the Irish Football Association (IFA) is aware of the situation and is awaiting the referee’s report before proceeding with any disciplinary measures.
Should the matter escalate, it could be referred to the IFA’s Disciplinary Committee for further action, potentially leading to a ban for McIntyre.
Cliftonville won the match 3-0, and McIntyre, 22, was booed by Cliftonville supporters for the remainder of the game.
Both managers—Carrick Rangers’ Stephen Baxter and Cliftonville’s Jim Magilton claimed they did not clearly witness the incident.
Baxter said he “didn’t see any push” and had “nothing to say,” while Magilton noted that if McIntyre had made contact, he was “lucky” to avoid on-field punishment, leaving it to McIntyre to clarify what happened. The investigation and potential disciplinary consequences remain pending at the time of writing.
Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) say: “Police received a report of an assault at a football match in the Cliftonville Street area of north Belfast on Saturday, March 22. Enquiries are ongoing.”
The Irish FA: “Should the matter be formally referred to the Disciplinary Committee, normal disciplinary protocols will be followed in line with established procedures”.
Carrick Rangers boss Stephen Baxter: “I honestly didn’t see it, I heard the crowd roaring, but I didn’t see any push, so I have nothing to say.”
Cliftonville’s Jim Magilton: “If he has done that then he is lucky and only he will know.
“I haven’t seen it back so I can’t comment, but if he has put hands on the ball boy and that is the rule then he was lucky not to be sent off.
“You’ll have to ask Jack McIntyre whether he laid hands on the boy or not.”
Fans reacted with the goalkeeper reportedly being investigated by police after allegedly ‘assaulting’ a ballboy during a match…
@swlarsson7: 100% pushd him to ground and for no reason.
@chrisadonnelly: Not acceptable. No good reason to push a child to the ground. The kid was only doing his job in offering a football to the player. Fans were rightly incensed at the time, and the officials were wrong to not take action at the time.
@DamienBranniga3: If he gets a suspension it will be doing Carrick a favour. Didn’t one of the goals go through his legs?
@LFC0wen: What the fuck has the ball boy done bar hand him the ball for the keeper to even do that though wasn’t even a bit of a messer or anything, absolutely scummy bastard that keeper
@TheRealGlenS: I’ll tell you the issue. The goalkeeper is a time wasting bastard and he was upset the ball boy was giving him the ball. He was a massive prick last week aswell. The amount of team time “managing” this season is the worst iv ever seen and the referees act like idiots about it
@GallahersBlues: Imagine having this as your career-defining moment. What an utter prick McIntyre is.
@RandomGlenavon: I opened this expecting to have some sympathy for the goalkeeper (some ball boys can be real wee menaces 😂) but no this is a really bad look. Lengthy ban incoming.
@NiecyOKeeffe: Any grown man pushing a ball boy to the ground shouldn’t be welcome in polite company, nevermind on the team. Bullying, cowardly prick. Fuck him off the team.
@ClaireMadMax: The headline should say grown man with serious issues pushes child to the ground. What a w*nker.
@MacSkalitude: What are our players at, not going after him!!??
@Donna__McLean: What an absolute prick. Why would anyone behave like that with a kid?
@PaulTyredagh81: Utter scumbag! 🤬 Needs lifting.
@cliftonvillefan: Jack McIntyre should never play in the Irish League again after today, it takes a serious wanker to do that to a ballboy and I’d expect he will get a rap on the door from the cops over it.
