GAA official attacks video evidence move

A LEADING GAA official has criticised the decision of the Central Disciplinary Committee to call in players on the back of video evidence — and the result could be even greater pressure on hard-pressed referees.

Long-serving Westmeath GAA chairman Seamus Whelan believes the CDC “went down a dangerous road” by changing decisions of match referees.

“There is enough pressure on referees as it is. Will members of the Central Disciplinary Committee spend all their time looking at video tapes?” he asks. “Will they have individual cameras on every footballer and hurler in the country?

"There’s inconsistency and inequality in the whole thing if they are going to call in some players on the back of video evidence. There will be an inequality if some players are suspended, and some aren’t, on the back of selective viewing of videos.

“There’s a referee, and six other officials, on the field in every match. Give them support and accept the reports of referees. Do we really want a Croke Park committee altering the results of matches?

“It is humiliating for referees who handle matches to the best of their ability, and then they have an anxious time as they wait to see if the committee will overturn any decisions.”