Wicklow worried over abuse of officials

WICKLOW GAA officials admitted they are worried at the heightening levels of abuse they received from sideline mentors of participating teams this year.

Tom Byrne, chairman of the Competitions Control Committee, highlighted the growing phenomenon in his report to Sunday’s GAA convention in Aughrim.

“A worrying trend that has come into our games is the number of club managers, officials and sideline personnel who abuse and insult county board officers and various committee members who happen to be in the vicinity of the sideline during games,” Byrne said. “County Board members and committee members are carrying out their work on a voluntary basis and should not be subjected to this type of attack.”

In recent weeks two mentors from Rathnew and St Mary’s were each suspended for six months for such disciplinary breaches on county final day while 127 players received straight red cards and a further 80 players went sent off on double yellow cards this year, a slight decrease on previous years. County secretary Michael Murphy said it was disappointing to see the number of juvenile disciplinary cases with U14 receiving red cards.

“A lot of disciplinary issues related to abuse of referees, especially by members and parents on the sideline,” he said. “Clubs have to take responsibility for their mentors and supporters.”

He also criticised those who blamed the media for publicising the unsavoury incidents in Wicklow.

“People were asking what was the CCC going to do about the matter,” said Tom Byrne. “My answer is that if the unsavoury incidents did not take place we would not receive any unwanted publicity. So instead of blaming the messenger, the photographers and reporters, why don’t the clubs concerned deal with those in their clubs that cause the incidents. Then together with the CCC this type of incident can be stamped out.”

But county secretary Michael Murphy felt the coverage was very biased.

“I have no problem with reporting what happens but it seems to be only regarding negative issues that Wicklow is known nationally.”