Abuse of match officials at colleges level ‘worrying’

The head of the GAA referees association has said it is ‘worrying’ to see the abuse of match officials spread to colleges games.

Mick Curley, chairman of the National Referees’ Association, said he was concerned to hear of the ugly scenes after the NUI Galway and St Mary’s game in the Sigerson Cup this week in which referee Sean Carroll was accosted at the end of the match and then followed to his dressing room by angry players from the Belfast teacher training college.

The referee, who yesterday declined to comment on the incident, was uninjured in the disgraceful scenes which erupted at the end of a clash, which NUIG won 0-6 to 0-5.