GAA referees don’t score highly in spotting fouls

Considering the amount of publicity given to the incident in last Sunday’s Gaelic football game between Dublin and Fermanagh, whereby goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton was pushed over the line with the ball in his hands and a goal awarded, I feel there is a broad lack of enforcement in games. 

Players are routinely pushed/shoved, etc, over the side lines and line balls are awarded to offending players.

The referee might not have been well-positioned to judge last Sunday’s game, but for most line-ball calls the linesmen are standing beside the incident and, unlike the umpires, can make a decision without having to consult the referee. Small things often end up as big things when a game ends all square or is won by one point.

Referees are most at fault when players are fouled from behind when bending to pick up ground balls. It is time for the GAA to demand strict compliance to the rules, by referees and linesmen.

Tony Fagan

Enniscorthy

Co Wexford