Top referee David Coldrick feels that GAA clubs must take more responsibility when it comes to their members abusing officials.

The Meath native has refereed four All-Ireland SFC finals to date and reckons it isn’t enough for only individuals to be held accountable for their actions when it comes to the verbal or physical abuse of officials.

“I think it's trying to broaden out the responsibility on clubs and the accountability on clubs,” Coldrick told GAA.ie.

“Yes, the individual needs to take responsibility, but you can have instances and I know of instances where an individual mentor at a juvenile level is suspended and the club is fined. But actually, the fine is paid by the individual.

“So, therefore, the club doesn't really have to take responsibility, they are making the person accountable because they're paying the fine, but he goes out and he does it again, which, in one particular instance, I know did happen.

“Again, you know he got a longer ban, he got a 48-week ban. He still paid the fine himself and the following week that juvenile team are in a county final and he turned up, and he started again.

“So, I think kind of broadening out from just the individual is something that needs to be looked at on the sanctions piece.”

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