The chairman of the national referees’ appointments committee, Donal Smyth, believes inter-county managers need to be more self-critical, rather than looking to blame someone outside the team environment.

The Government’s 12-18-month root and branch review of the gardaí will not be finalised until after Easter because further consultation with opposition parties is still needed.

A county Meath referee has been the subject of abusive phone calls over the past week following his officiating of a club football game.