Rules chief Freaney says laws ‘not experimental’

GAA NATIONAL Match Official Co-ordinator Pearse Freaney says the rules being used in the national leagues are not experimental, adding it’s “off the mark” to suggest the rules are designed to tackle cynicism in football rather than hurling.

“It’s off the mark to say that, because a cynical foul in hurling is still a cynical foul,” said Freaney.

“Pulling a player down to the ground, for instance, is as cynical in hurling as it is in football. It is the same with tripping a player — that’s cynical no matter what the sport is.The fouls are there already, it’s just that the sanctions have changed a little.”

Freaney was speaking following last weekend’s dismissal of four players in the Waterford-Kilkenny NHL game on yellow cards, with two more players getting straight reds.

However, he stressed that the rules remain the same for league, championship or challenge matches.

“That’s the kernel of the whole matter, ‘experimental rule’s is a wrong term in so far as the sanctions are slightly different — that’s the main thing.

“People have a perception that championship and league games are handled differently, but from a refereeing perspective we’d hope that the rules are applied in the same way in all games, whether those are championship, league or challenge games.

“We tell referees that their duty is to apply the rules, no matter what the competition is, for every game

“It can be difficult to change people’s views on that — most would have their own perceptions as to how games should be handled, that games should be refereed in a particular way depending on the competition.

“Sometimes those perceptions depend on who the person is supporting, of course, but they don’t really consider what the rules state, and we’re stuck with those rules.

“There are some rules that I wouldn’t agree with, but those are the rules.

“If people have a view on those rules and want to change them, then they can get involved in their clubs in order to do so.”