The Eircom League is investigating St Patrick’s Athletic for alleged fielding an illegal player during the opening three matches of this year’s campaign.
English-born teenager Paul Marney lined out in the first three games, but did not appear against UCD last Thursday.
Eircom League officials are understood to have instructed the Dublin club not to field the player until an investigation is completed.
The league could deduct nine points from the team’s total as punishment.