GAA violence hike may spark ‘crisis’

DUBLIN GAA secretary John Costello has warned of an alarming escalation in the number of violent incidents in juvenile matches in recent years.

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.