Murphy calls on Wicklow clubs to improve attitude towards officials

WICKLOW secretary Michael Murphy has acknowledged that the county has a disciplinary problem.

Writing in his report to annual convention, Murphy admits the county’s Competitions Control Committee faced a bigger workload dealing with disciplinary issues in 2010 and expressed concerns about the number of incidents at juvenile level.

“Each year we discuss discipline as an area where both clubs and players do not give enough consideration in relation to games,” wrote Murphy.

“Once again there was an increase in the number of disciplinary cases before the CCC and once again it was very disappointing to see the increase in juvenile disciplinary cases. Players at U12 and U14 receiving red cards should not be happening.

“Again, a lot of the discipline issues related to abuse of referees, especially from mentors and parents on the sideline. Clubs will have to take responsibility for their mentors and supporters.”

Murphy called on clubs to improve their attitude towards officials. “Once again, every year I ask clubs to ensure that respect is shown to referees for the year ahead. This is not happening in a lot of clubs. Referees are not always right but without them we will not have any games.

“We should also acknowledge that referees are only human and mistakes will happen from time to time but hopefully they will learn from it given a chance.”

Wicklow’s CCC chairman Michael Hagan revealed the committee met on 34 occasions, addressing disciplinary cases which included 136 red cards (42 at juvenile level, among them team mentors who “had showed no respect towards our rules regulations and match officials”).

Wicklow chairman Andy O’Brien last month defended the Garden County’s disciplinary record in the wake of another ugly club game melee in the county’s Division Four South-East junior football final between Tinahely and Avoca.

Murphy also named and shamed a number of clubs who have consistently failed to attend board meetings.