Players faking injuries will pay penalty, warn GAA

THE growing practice of players feigning injury has led to a tough response from the GAA.

In a swift crackdown, referees have been empowered to issue a yellow card to a player deemed guilty of faking an injury. An added penalty will be the awarding of a throw-in in hurling and a free to the opposing team in football.

One of the most high-profile cases of an alleged feigned injury happened in this year’s All-Ireland football final and resulted in the sending off of Armagh forward Diarmuid Marsden. While Marsden failed in a bid to lift his suspension when he appeared before the GAC, he has not given up and his appeal will be heard at next month’s Central Council meeting.