SINN FÉIN TD Jonathan O’Brien was removed from Turner’s Cross last night in connection with a protest against John Delaney.

O’Brien — a former Cork City chairman — called on Delaney and the FAI board to resign at Wednesday’s Oireachtas committee grilling.

2 Jonathan O'Brien was thrown out of Turner's Cross

2 The fans were protesting against FAI Executive vice-president John Delaney Credit: PA:Press Association

And when fans held up an anti-Delaney banner ­during the 1-1 draw with St Pat’s, the TD, a founding member of FORAS (Friends of the Rebel Army Society), was escorted out of the ground by gardai.

He said: “There was one fan removed and unfortunately that was me. I didn’t even have the banner.

They told me I was removed on the grounds that I was impeding the gardaí from trying to remove the banner — that is the reason I was given.”

O’Brien reckons fans did nothing wrong in their protest against the association’s former CEO, who, on Wednesday, refused to answer questions about corporate governance at the FAI during his tenure.

O’Brien added: “This is a really bad look for the FAI if ­people are seen not to be allowed conduct peaceful protests. What do they expect?

“At the most recent international match against Georgia, tennis balls were thrown on the pitch and that was condemned by the FAI.

“You hold up a peaceful banner saying ‘Delaney Out’ and that is not allowed either. It was a peaceful ­protest, the banner was up for maybe 30 seconds and the reaction of the guards was a little over the top I would say.

“I am disappointed in the reaction of the Gardaí but I won’t be making too much of it, I will be back in Turner’s Cross next week.”

Cork City declined to comment when contacted.