GAA violence hike may spark ‘crisis’
To date in the capital, the number of referees' reports containing cases of indiscipline is over 200. That is more than three times the number dealt with last year and anecdotal evidence suggests that the problem is escalating throughout the country.
Interference by adults is also rising, according to Costello, while he says abusive and threatening language towards referees could lead to a shortfall of match officials of crisis proportions in the years to come if the trend isn't addressed.
"Speak with anyone involved in administration at Juvenile Disciplinary level and they'll confirm that the incidence of violence related to youth sporting events has increased dramatically over the last couple of decades.
"Movies, television, and video games have become much, much more violent. This, in turn has made society more violent, and is reflected in the culture of youth sport.
"I urge all those responsible for administering discipline to apply appropriate punishments for the reported offences. I welcome the review by Central Council of the suspensions imposed on juveniles as the minimum suspension of one week is ludicrous."
The debate over UCD's involvement in the Dublin hurling championship will also be dealt with next month.
A motion put forward by the St Joseph's club will be discussed at the January meeting of the county board. If passed, it will be up for debate at Congress next year.
Though the motion stops short of removing third-level sides from the county championships, it would greatly restrict the pool of players eligible to play for sides like UCD.
In his report however, Costello stated that there was little disquiet about the College's success until the matter was highlighted in the national media.
"Unfortunately, there is an element of the 'not in my back garden' mentality to UCD's involvement ie when Ballyboden St Enda's were defeated in the 2004 Dublin SHC final there did not seem to be much support to debate the matter in a serious manner.
"However, 12 months later the debate was hoisted onto the national stage following some media criticism over UCD's participation in the Dublin and Leinster SHC following their victories in the Leinster Club Championship.
"If we are serious about the development of hurling at senior level then surely the clubs should not have needed external forces to light the litmus paper the clubs should have tabled motions to Convention. The fact that several clubs did not even know when the last date for submission of motions to Convention was tells its own tale."
Costello also commented on the amount of controversies arising over the issue of time-keeping in matches at all levels and called for referees to be relieved of those duties for
inter-county fixtures.
"The time has come for the burden of time-keeping to be taken from referees at inter-county level and given to the fourth official. The real time administration a match referee has to carry out during a game is demanding and off-loading the responsibility of time-keeping to the fourth official, including that of injury-time, should aid the match referee in his duties."
The Dublin secretary has also called for a constriction of the inter-county calendar to alleviate pressure on club fixtures and a disciplinary system where players would be punished for amassing a number of yellow cards.
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