Harte: referee forgot about the advantage rule

March 21, 2014

Tyrone manager Mickey Harte. INPHO
Mickey Harte says one referee admitted forgetting to apply gaelic football's new advantage rule.

Writing in his weekly column in The Irish News, the Tyrone manager notes that he has detected a number of anomalies in how the rule is being applied:

"We are a little over two months into the new season and the amount of variables that I have observed already in relation to this rule is disconcerting," he says.

"In one instance, a player coming to collect the pass as an inside forward was clearly fouled from behind but the ball broke to an incoming team-mate who was in an excellent position to score.

"The ref blew for the free immediately and the potential advantage was lost. When asked why he didn't allow the play to continue, the referee was honest and intimated that he forgot to implement the new sanction.

"Whilst the honesty of his reply is to be admired, the net effect could on occasion result in the losing of a highly-significant game.

"Asking the match official to keep his attention on all of the play which is continuing in addition to keeping his arm in the air, count for up to five seconds and make a judgement if an advantage has accrued or not has all the ingredients for big matches being won or lost by wrong calls."

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