‘Unfair’ ban draws some Reale sympathy
Two years ago, in his first championship match as Limerick captain, Reale was sent off before half-time after receiving a second yellow card for a second bookable offence, a foul on Tipp corner-forward Eoin Kelly.
And the CCCC yesterday, in recommending a six-month suspension for Galvin, acted far too severely, according to Reale.
“I wouldn’t agree with that at all. What did he do? Right, he knocked the notebook out of the ref’s hand, but what did the Dublin and Meath boys do? They were boxing the heads off each other (in the league a few weeks ago) and they get a month.
“I can understand his frustration; captain of Kerry, his first time out (in the championship), getting sent off – I know what that feels like.
“Fair enough he overreacted but surely you can understand that. He must have felt himself that he was completely hard done by, to react like that – he must have. He was thinking, ‘What’s going on here, why are you giving ME a yellow card, why are you sending ME off?’ I know he pushed (Tomás) Ó Sé afterwards but I’d say all he was feeling at that stage was ‘Jesus, just leave me alone will ya’.
“At that stage all that’s going through your mind is the injustice of what’s happening. Sure he might as well hang up his boots for the entire year now. I think it’s very unfair.”
There are those who will feel that this is only justice delayed, that the abrasive Galvin has been living on the edge for so long it was bound to catch up with him. Not the point, says Reale.
“He’s the wrong man to get tangled up with, and a lot of people don’t like his style of play, but a lot of counties would have him in the morning. He overreacted, but it was heat of the moment, he felt he was being wronged, and it wasn’t as if he hit anyone.”
RULE 46 deals with the different offences (referred to in the rule book as “infractions”) to which the disciplinary jurisdiction of the Association applies. The relevant section under which Paul Galvin’s case was dealt with comes under the heading of “Misconduct At Games By Players” — in which there are five different categories.
The relevant category (4) deals with “minor physical interference (eg laying a hand on, pushing, pulling or jostling), threatening or abusive conduct towards, or threatening language to, a referee, umpire, linesman or sideline official”.
The minimum penalty is a 12-week suspension in all codes and at all levels. And, for a repeat infraction, the penalty is a 24-week suspension.
Category 5 covers any type of assault’ on a referee, umpire, linesman or sideline official and stipulates a 48-week suspension, with the additional threat of the team being disqualified “where appropriate”.
The disciplinary system:
The Central Competitions Control Committee proposes a penalty. It is either accepted or rejected.
If it is rejected, a hearing is granted. The Hearings Committee (decision makers) either imposes a penalty or exonerates, based on evidence heard during the hearing.
If a penalty is imposed by the Hearings Committee and the defending party is not willing to accept it, an appeal can be lodged to the Appeals Committee.
The appeal is heard by the Appeals Committee. If unsuccessful, the penalty remains imposed and all avenues of appeal are now exhausted. The defending party still has the option of seeking arbitration through the DRA (Disputes Resolution Authority). This is an external independent body and all their decisions are binding.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
