Harte calls for end to ‘nonsense’ referee review procedures

MICKEY HARTE says the controversial rule whereby referees can be asked to review their handling of incidents after big games is “a nonsense” and should be scrapped.

Longford club Legan Sarsfields, home of recently retired referee John Bannon, will present a motion at their county convention calling for the rule to be binned.

Bannon was asked to review his handling of an incident between one of Harte’s Tyrone players, Brian McGuigan, and Cork’s John Miskella in the All-Ireland semi-final. In what was his last inter-county game, the experienced referee stood over his decision to merely book Miskella for an off-the-ball clash with McGuigan.

Bannon clearly felt that he shouldn’t have been put in the emotionally charged position, a day after the game, to potentially rule Miskella out of the All-Ireland final.

Cavan referee Brian Crowe was equally frustrated by the rule and believes it even contributed to ruining his career. Harte agrees with the Legan Sarsfields motion calling for the rule to be scrapped entirely.

“For me, that rule has been implemented in an unfair way since it came in,” said Harte.

“They were selective in who was asked to review what. It’s a nonsense rule if it’s not being applied consistently so, definitely, do away with it.”

Some have claimed that programmes like RTÉ’s The Sunday Game, which regularly highlights flash-point incidents missed by referees in real time, sets the agenda for what referees are asked to review.

“It’s difficult to be definitive about that but, bringing a logical mind to it, that would seem the case all right,” said Harte. The three-time All-Ireland-winning Tyrone manager also called on the GAA not to even consider appointing a new International Rules manager for Ireland.

According to reports, Meath legend Sean Boylan won’t be retained as Ireland manager for the 2010 tests in Limerick and Dublin.

“I don’t think another series should even be considered so I don’t think they should be considering any new manager,” said long-time Rules critic Harte.

“That game should have been left behind a long time ago. Let’s get real and promote our own games and leave this hybrid stuff behind.”

Meanwhile, Harte believes Tyrone may have come out against the GAA’s plan to formally recognise the Gaelic Players Association because they’ve always looked after their own players well without any outside help.

“There’s an element of truth in that I’m sure, certainly no player in Tyrone can say they’re not well looked after,” said Harte. “Maybe that’s one of the underlying reasons. It’s probably a contributing factor.”

Harte’s coaching philosophies and training techniques, along with those of four-in-a-row winning Kilkenny manager Brian Cody, are featured on a new DVD Passion and Glory. For information see www.jwtv.co.uk.