Black card needed to curb ‘rugby tackling,’ warns McEnaney

Referees chief Pat McEnaney claims opponents of the black card proposal are content with the rugby-style tackles that now blemish Gaelic football.

The Monaghan native is a fervent supporter of the Football Review Committee’s (FRC) recommendation against cynicism in the game. As fears grow about the fate of the motion in Congress in Derry on Saturday, with several counties prepared to vote against it, McEnaney has criticised those who refuse to accept there are serious issues in how Gaelic football is played.

“You’ve seen the number of rugby challenges at our football matches these last six or seven weeks. If you’re looking at the number of games that were televised last week, you’re looking at four at least — two on TG4 and two on Setanta.