Top referee David Coldrick says abuse towards officials "becomes more mental” over the years.

The Meath official was speaking after the announcement that the GAA will hold a national Respect the Referee Day across the weekend of October 22/23, which comes in the wake of some widely-publicised alleged assaults on referees in recent weeks.

Match officials at the Referee Respect Media event at Croke Park revealed that refs are receiving verbal abuse during every match and that much of the abuse comes from children.

"Over the years it becomes more mental," Coldrick, who has refereed four All-Ireland SFC finals, is quoted saying by BBC Sport NI. 

"You go out as a volunteer for the association to do the best job that you possibly can. You are never going to get everything right, you try your best and you referee in front of you on the day but it can be tough in the immediate aftermath.

"Like players and lots of people involved in the association, we have day jobs and the initial day or two after those tough matches can be difficult, so it does impact mentally."

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