Linfield boss David Healy says he 'doesn't care' if he is sanctioned for entering the field of play during Tuesday night’s County Antrim Shield final with Larne.
Healy jogged out to the centre circle to check on Jordan Stewart after the Blues forward suffered a serious leg injury after a challenge near the end of the Seaview showpiece.
Play had stopped at the time and Stewart, who was visibly distressed, was subsequently stretchered off and left the North Belfast stadium on crutches.
Healy later claimed he had been ordered from the pitch by the match officials, but the former Northern Ireland striker insists he has no regrets.
“I have a duty of care to the player and that’s why I went on,” he said. “I wasn’t having a go at Tony (Clarke, the referee) or the Larne player.
“I was consoling Jordan because I have a human side to me as the manager. I could see from the sidelines that my player was distressed.
“To be told basically - not asked - to leave the pitch or I’d be sent off was frustrating. I wasn’t having a go at the referee or anybody else.
“I also wasn’t coming on to change tactics. I was coming on to console a seriously injured player."
Asked if he is worried about facing some form of disciplinary action from the powers-that-be, Healy said: “I don’t care - I have a human side and I would have gone on anyway.
“There may be IFA or NIFL rules about managers stepping onto the pitch, which I was punished with a number of years ago, but I don’t really care about the rules in these circumstances.
“The IFA changes the rules when it suits them and NIFL changes the rules when it suits them. I was on the pitch consoling my player.”
On the extent of Stewart’s injury, Healy: “It will be assessed.”
