Referees chief calls for bans to tackle card-carrying cynics

Referees chief Pat McEnaney has called on the GAA to introduce a penalty system to punish repeat yellow card offenders and combat the growing cynicism in Gaelic football.

The Monaghan man envisages a scheme whereby a player incurring three yellow cards in the Championship would face a one-match ban.

However, McEnaney says it would not be operational for All-Ireland finals as he deems it would be unfair on a player to miss out on the September decider because of a yellow card.

Nevertheless the National Referees Committee chairman is adamant something has to be done to help kick cynical play out of the game.

“We would love to see something done about it. Bookings should be carried so if you pick up a number of yellow cards, you miss the next game.

“If you are shown three yellow cards in the Championship, you should miss the game directly after you pick up the third. That should apply to all games barring the All-Ireland final. It’s such a big stage that you don’t want a fella missing the next game.

“You could blow up the amateur status of players but you would create less aggro if you eliminate All-Ireland finals from that idea.”

McEnaney also explained ruling a player out of an All-Ireland final because of a yellow card would be as unfair on the referee as it would on the player.

In the recent past, match officials have been reluctant to review incidents which would have suspended players for the biggest games of the year.

In the 2007 All-Ireland semi-final between Cork and Tyrone, Brian Crowe elected not to upgrade a yellow card he handed to Noel O’Leary as it would have meant the defender missed out on the final. At the same stage in 2009, Irish Examiner columnist John Bannon chose to do the same despite being asked by the Central Competitions Control Committee to take a second look at the yellow card he handed Cork’s John Miskella.

“There would be unbelievable pressure on the referee in the All-Ireland semi-final,” insisted McEnaney.

McEnaney would like to see any suspension from the scheme extended to the next Championship season.

“It would have to be on a roll-on effect in terms of applying to the following year’s Championship if needs be.”

Croke Park has already suggested that they are keen to see something done about persistent fouling.

“We can only apply the rules that are there — they’re what we have to work with. If the rules need changing, then that’s for another day.”