Kilkenny criticism forces HQ to defend new rule

GAA officials have reacted to Kilkenny’s strong criticism of the new sideline regulations, pointing to the successful implementation of those rules in the National Football League and rejecting suggestions there had not been consultation on the matter, stating that “consultation does not constitute a veto.”

The new regulations reduce the number of backroom staff on the sidelines for inter-county games from twelve to five per team, and Kilkenny senior hurling selector Martin Fogarty issued a hard-hitting statement to the Irish Examiner for publication yesterday, likening the decision to introduce the new rules in the GAA to “dictatorship”.

Fogarty said in his statement: “Recently we have seen various members of team managements speaking out against the new match regulations while it appears that their elected delegates to central council either voted in favour of the regulations or did not speak out against them.