Former All-Ireland winning Tipperary captain Eoin Kelly claims GAA chiefs are putting too much pressure on referees.

The Paddy Power ambassador highlighted Noel McGrath’s dismissal by Colm Lyons in last Sunday’s Allianz FL defeat to Wexford to illustrate his point.

“Firstly, no one will argue with the first yellow he received,” Kelly writes.

“The second yellow was very harsh though, the fact that it was under the main stand and right next to the Wexford management didn’t help either. The roar of the crowd can influence a referee too.

“It wasn’t even a high tackle! If he was red carded for that in Championship you wouldn’t forgive the referee for it.

“Referees seem to be under pressure to use the whistle at the moment.

“Last year we had a great Championship, so if it’s not broken, what are they trying to fix? “Leave the game alone!”

He continued: “Bar the goalline decision between Tipp and Waterford last season, referees weren’t being talked about at all and that was an umpiring call anyway.

“Now we have them all over League Sunday at the weekend, what does that tell you?

“This is all coming from the hierarchy in Croke Park, but we want to see free-flowing hurling.

“Why are they trying to change the mindset of referees now?”

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