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How Do We Protect Match Officials And What Can Be Done To Help Improve Officials And Respect Towards Them

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It's one thing getting excited and shouting abuse (which should nt be tolerated either) but this is pure thuggery and gbh. Hope the culprit is charged and prosecuted and the gaa deal with it properly too. Hope the ref makes a speedy recovery too. CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 3851 - 01/09/2022 20:27:04 2439365 Link
One thing Rugby has right is the authority wielded by the ref on the pitch - as I recall from my playing days even foul language is not tolerated at all … GAA is more lenient and this spreads Bainisteoir (National) - Posts: 564 - 01/09/2022 21:30:55 2439370 Link
We need Zero tolerance to this and all disciplinary issues. I'm not saying this issue is any way related to the disciplinary fiascos we had during the summer but the culture in the GAA is that rules are more guidelines and that there is always a loophole. so until all loopholes for players and supporters are closed there is no real deterrant. I heard recently that a mentor (repeat offender) in my own county (I live in #Wexford now) got 6 month for verbal abuse of a referree at a minor game and the club got a serious fine. I welcome this sort of action. as far as I know recommended sanctions for disciplinary issues are minimums. County boards can recommend higher sanctions. Id be looking for a lifetime ban for whoever did this in Roscommon. indaknownow (Offaly) - Posts: 112 - 02/09/2022 08:50:58 2439377 Link
The only part of it what is shocking is that people are shocked. I am not at all shocked. Up and down the country, from u8 to senior inter county, people are shouting abuse at referees from the 1st minute to the last, blaming referees for defeats, its always that brutal referee who cost the team the match. Now ignore the litany of wides, bad passes, fouls, etc which the team committed. It is the referee's fault. At inter county level, we have a disciplinary system which is NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE. I think GAA authorities love the leaky, loophole filled system because woe betide they might need to make a big call which means a player misses an All-Ireland final for decapitating somebody, after all he is "not that kind of player"........ County boards have a lot to answer for too. They defend players when they know they were rightly sent off. How can they then have a double standard when disciplining at club level? I can't wait for the tipping point where referees say no more. Watch the GAA squirm when the one person the games can't go ahead without say enough is enough. It will serve the GAA authorities right. The referees withdrawing their service will be the line in the sand as far as they are concerned. I think it is imminent. ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1267 - 02/09/2022 09:09:26 2439381 Link
The rules in Gaelic Football are not well defined, particularly the tackle rule. Additionally, the standard of refereeing is poor in club games. These two factors create a toxic mix which drives supporters crazy. The tackle rule is far too open to interpretation on a subjective basis, this needs to be overhauled somehow. Ned_Stormcrow (Cavan) - Posts: 1071 - 02/09/2022 09:44:15 2439390 Link
Replying To carlowman: "I don't think we can get 100% guaranteed protection for all referes and officials in all games. Nevertheless the advent of camera phones and video makes it so much easier to definitively name perpetrators. In my years attending games in both codes- I have not seen any match official or referee being physically assaulted. I have heard and witnessed many situations where officials have been verbally abused and attempts at intimidation made and a few times where mentor's/parents have threatened officials. One huge difficulty is that too often these 'abusers' get away with it as referees do not report such incidents. Why that is is another issue but is key to further aggressive and confrontational situations developing at that match and in future games. This makes it impossible to fully stamp out such incidents. I believe that verbal intimidation and abuse should be the starting point and should be reported in match reports and whatever is said or done is reported as accurately as possible so that perpetrators can be given appropriate sanction. That should be the first step. If that reporting of such abuse is continually taken then ultra serious assaults should not happen or will be less likely to happen. Referees must have confidence in disciplinary committees to act when they report and that should be a given. Another thing that should be done is to seriously reduce the number of mentor's who have access to sidelines. Far too often its Hurley carriers and water boys who get stuck into a brawl on the pitch and make the situation worse. Similarly with mentor's.... in many places there is no limit to the number on the line." You should be able to guarantee a ref is protected from that level of violence though bar the unlikeliest of situations but these happen all too often in the GAA. even with far less rugby games you dont see that happen in rugby anywhere near as often. it happens a lot in soccer as well i have seen match officials in gaa and rugby being physically assaulted. refs do need to have confidence in discipline systems but they need more training and assistance to help with their rules knowledge and how to best prepare themselves for all situations from a rules point of view and if refs meet regularly to discuss these things they can also discuss how to deal with incidents like in this thread. i totally agree with reducing the numbers of people allowed on sidelines at games. rugby you are only allowed 3 people inside the technical area around the pitch and if pitch has barriers completely around the pitch even subs are meant to be outside the fence and only come inside if coming onto the pitch KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3695 - 02/09/2022 09:48:15 2439391 Link
Currently, anybody (manager, coaching staff, players) can, and do, approach referees after the whistle has been blown for half-time and full-time. Hardly a game goes by where you don't see a ref being berated as they are walking off the pitch (it's the same in soccer). Also, why are managers/coaches allowed to shout and scream at the sideline official? The sideline official's duties are solely to do with substitutions and displaying any added time there might be. All these antics are a terrible example to be giving to young and impressionable players. No one should be allowed to approach the referee after the whistle has been blown for half-time and full-time. If anyone has any issues with the ref's performance, they should be addressed, in writing, to the relevant authorities. . Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2668 - 02/09/2022 09:56:50 2439393 Link
Referee associations should have organised a strike this weekend. All games in Roscommon, Connaught or even the whole country called off. People need to realise the games can't function without refs. This individual who came onto the pitch should be named and this incident given as the reason all the games are off. It is extreme but that level of shame and exposure would make people think twice about coming onto the pitch. People like that don't care if someone thinks they are violent, they probably revel in it, but they would care if their club is punished and their clubmen blame them. Punish the group, then the group will police the behaviour. There is absolutely no excuse for what he did, he walked onto the pitch and assaulted the ref. He had time to think, it wasn't a reflexive reaction like a player confrontation. Meathnorth (Meath) - Posts: 1 - 02/09/2022 10:02:35 2439395 Link
Just saw the video clip of the incident last night, and it's absolutely shocking. There's some precedent for incidents on playing pitches to end up in the courtrooms, and I hope that turns out to be the case here too. Also hope that the person in question is slapped with a lifetime ban from the GAA. On the bigger picture - as somebody else said above, while actual assault of referees is rare, abuse of referees is unfortunately all too common. Equally unfortunately, much of the abuse goes unreported, even by the referees themselves. First step in tackling the problem could be to encourage all referees to report all instances of abuse, and for appropriate action to be taken. Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 2648 - 02/09/2022 10:27:46 2439396 Link
It's clear that the AFL or Rugby don't have any issues with abuse or violence towards umpires/referees. Zero tolerance is their policy and that starts with the games at underage level. This could be solved quite quickly if HQ and the county boards had the backbone to follow through on their empty words. It will be a struggle to entice anyone to take up the whistle soon. Gaa has gone so fast that it is high time for 2 referees to be used. Don't say it wouldn't work, it works perfectly in the AFL. Time to root out this stain on our great game. Cic-Saor (Donegal) - Posts: 4 - 02/09/2022 10:32:47 2439397 Link
A lot of the physical and verbal abuse suffered by referees is as a result of a lack of consequences for such behaviour. There's pretty much a view that you can do whatever you want and you'll get off an appeal anyways. The GAA's disciplinary procedures are a farce, in recent years there have been issues of refs facing physical abuse in several counties and provinces around the country. Often times, it's swept under the carpet and perpetrators are never really punished. Take for example the Mountbellew/Moylough players who put their hands on the ref after their loss last year. They verbally abused him, stood on his feet and shoved him among other things. There was footage of this widely available to the public, yet they were all back playing football within 6 months due to "appeals" and "hearings". Hopefully this will be a watershed moment for the Gaa where they'll actually begin to back referees. This in line with a culture change of a zero tolerance for abuse may help to protect officials. Donaldtrump (Galway) - Posts: 252 - 02/09/2022 11:52:32 2439407 Link
Replying To Cic-Saor: "It's clear that the AFL or Rugby don't have any issues with abuse or violence towards umpires/referees. Zero tolerance is their policy and that starts with the games at underage level. This could be solved quite quickly if HQ and the county boards had the backbone to follow through on their empty words. It will be a struggle to entice anyone to take up the whistle soon. Gaa has gone so fast that it is high time for 2 referees to be used. Don't say it wouldn't work, it works perfectly in the AFL. Time to root out this stain on our great game." I wouldn't say they don't have any issues. There are numerous stories of rugby referees being assaulted over the last few years in various countries, Wales, Australia, England etc. I agree however, that there is generally a much better culture of respect towards officials in rugby. The assault in Roscommon is disgraceful and anyone pushing or physically abusing a ref in any way needs to be dealt with severely. One thing I will say is that, while incidents are definitely getting highlighted more now (which is needed), I do think things have improved over recent years. I say this from experience of playing, coaching and attending hundreds of games over the last few decades. When I was a young lad, every lunatic including coaches gave dogs abuse to the ref from start to finish. This is not as prevalent as it used to be. However, there's a long way to go yet. WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2223 - 02/09/2022 11:56:26 2439408 Link
Two referees is not possible, you'd need double number of refs obviously, struggling in most counties as it is. Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1967 - 02/09/2022 12:03:21 2439409 Link
Replying To Cic-Saor: "It's clear that the AFL or Rugby don't have any issues with abuse or violence towards umpires/referees. Zero tolerance is their policy and that starts with the games at underage level. This could be solved quite quickly if HQ and the county boards had the backbone to follow through on their empty words. It will be a struggle to entice anyone to take up the whistle soon. Gaa has gone so fast that it is high time for 2 referees to be used. Don't say it wouldn't work, it works perfectly in the AFL. Time to root out this stain on our great game." Have you ever been to an AFL match, unless the culture has changed dramatically in the last 20-25 years the abuse towards umpires is akin to soccer. Aussies are an angry crowd. I agree regarding 2 referees. ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1267 - 02/09/2022 12:39:15 2439416 Link
All referees should be wearing recording device like does be worn in rugby league technology is there for this at least for adult matches I no that roscommon incident was in an underage match Sinbin (Wicklow) - Posts: 19 - 02/09/2022 13:21:27 2439420 Link
Replying To ExiledInWex: "Have you ever been to an AFL match, unless the culture has changed dramatically in the last 20-25 years the abuse towards umpires is akin to soccer. Aussies are an angry crowd. I agree regarding 2 referees." What a load of nonsense… 2 referees.. It would just mean you'd have 2 people making a mess of it instead of one…. Simplify the rules … use the count down clock like in ladies football and for all county matches insure the 4 umpires are qualified referees… Give the 4 umpires and 2 linesmen more powers to alert the referee to any incidents that occur off the ball…. For God sake if 7 officials can't keep an eye on what's going on it's time to forget the whole thing… and some geniuses want to add an 8th … Heaven help us… ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 3259 - 02/09/2022 13:38:01 2439423 Link
Replying To Claretandblue: "Two referees is not possible, you'd need double number of refs obviously, struggling in most counties as it is." In amatuer junior hockey the 12 year olds get paid for refereeing. In Ireland we just love doing the poor mouths. No wonder we are jibed and made fun of. Pay the people who want and are trained properly with non ambigious game rules. There will be plenty candidates to put two referees on the pitch. Get rid of the thugs who abuse by having strict consequences. To hell with what other sports do or dont do. Clean up are own house. Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 2903 - 02/09/2022 14:35:12 2439427 Link
Obviously a club underage match isn't going to be attracting much coverage, unless something like this happens if course, but I really do think that refs should give interviews after a game,, to the likes of Marty Morrissey etc, just like players and managers, explaining decisions, talking about their feelings on the game. It would imo help to make them come across as more relatable, more human, and help eejits like this fella understand that they're normal human beings at the end of the day. Is there a reason why they don't /are prevented from giving interviews? Galway9801 (Galway) - Posts: 1942 - 02/09/2022 14:51:13 2439428 Link
Replying To Canuck: "In amatuer junior hockey the 12 year olds get paid for refereeing. In Ireland we just love doing the poor mouths. No wonder we are jibed and made fun of. Pay the people who want and are trained properly with non ambigious game rules. There will be plenty candidates to put two referees on the pitch. Get rid of the thugs who abuse by having strict consequences. To hell with what other sports do or dont do. Clean up are own house." You mean pay officials for intercounty games Canuck? Not a bad plan but like you say draw up clear unambiguous rules first and see that officials implement the rules consistently. GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7704 - 02/09/2022 15:19:52 2439432 Link
Perhaps realise it's only a fcken game... jimbodub (Dublin)* - Posts: 20699 - 02/09/2022 16:10:13 2439438 Link