Curley welcomes respect campaign

REFEREES’ chief Mick Curley has welcomed a new initiative which aims to improve respect for GAA match officials.

Every inter-county whistleblower will have a logo with the words Give Respect, Get Respect on their jerseys for the league and championship campaigns.

Curley explained: “This was a new initiative taken up by the GAA to help gain respect for referees.

“The objective is to gain and to generate respect.’’

Curley says the initiative will be based along he same lines as the Premier League in England and is confident it will be a success.

“We have had good communication with managers and players in recent months discussing various matters.

“There was no one major topic, we just outlined to them what constitutes a red card, a yellow card, etc, etc.

“But the key thing for all sides is communication between all parties which will hopefully result in greater respect.”

Curley said that there were few new faces on the refereeing panel of the league but explained that some officials could be promoted to championship duties on the basis of their spring performances.

He explained: “The panel is opened up again to everyone, not just the lads involved in the championship last year but those that were on the panel for the leagues in 2010.’’

Curley added: “Basically everyone is back in and under assessment again for the championship ahead.”