Bannon says black card not the cure for all ills

Former inter-county referee John Bannon claims there has been a massive over-reaction to the success of the black card recommendation.

The Irish Examiner columnist stresses the Football Review Committee’s proposal has never promoted itself as an answer to cynicism and insists such play will continue to exist in the game.

While supportive in principle of the black card, Bannon, who officiated in the 1998 and 2002 All-Ireland finals, insists more has to be done to rid Gaelic football of negative play.

“People have made a lot out of the black card but come September 2014 with five minutes to go in an All-Ireland final and a team two points ahead there’ll still be cynical fouling. Some seem to think now that it’s in for next year the black card will eradicate it. It will make a difference to cutting down on systematic fouling throughout a game but when a team is protecting a lead they will still resort to it.

“The FRC did a great job in promoting their side of the argument but I hope it doesn’t just stop at that. Negative and cynical fouling is a massive part of Gaelic football. It won’t be solved by one or two rule changes implemented this year or next year.”

Although FRC chairman Eugene McGee is a fellow Longford native and he sought Bannon’s opinion on a couple of issues prior to the committee’s recommendations were published last December, Bannon has no qualms in highlighting the black card will impact more on the likes of their county team.

“Speaking as a Longford man, I can safely say it will affect the weaker counties. There is a limit to the number of top players they have and when a weaker county replaces a starting player they’re replacing him with a lesser one.

“Just as the introduction of the five substitutes affected weaker counties negatively, it won’t be as felt as much by the stronger teams.”

GAA director general Páraic Duffy has confirmed the Association will be embarking on a major education and training campaign before the black card comes in at the start of next year.

According to Bannon, several groups will need plenty of briefing on it but none more so than the referee at grassroots level.

“I do see a problem with club referees. Croke Park do lots of work with inter-county referees with clips, meetings and seminars but most counties only bring together theirs at the start of the year for a refresher on the rules and that’s it. Croke Park, the provincial councils and the county boards will have to do a lot of work to upskill and upgrade referees. January 1 will ensure that but I’ve always said they should be doing that anyway.

It’s an old bugbear of mine. But everyone – the media, players, managers, officials – all need to educated on it. You saw the confusion about the combination of a yellow and black card (equals a red card), which had to be cleared up earlier this week.”

Bannon, who has previously expressed concerns about the proposal putting more pressure on match officials, is delighted the black card debate has now moved onto the subject of refereeing and is being discussed in a constructive way.

“One of the positives out of it is that refereeing is being talked about and hopefully that might improve the setting for referees to implement the rules.

“My argument throughout last summer was the rules that exist at the moment are capable of ensuring games are played in the best spirit and can deal with the systematic fouling that is currently being performed by teams.”

Incidentally, Bannon believes the new advantage rule will be of more benefit to referees and the game of Gaelic football than the other more-publicised FRC motion.

“The introduction of the five-second advantage is a bigger help to football than the black card. It should lead to players being provided with advantage and a free if they haven’t received advantage.

“The previous rule didn’t allow for a free to be called after advantage was given and some referees used “a slow whistle” to try and give that favour to the fouled player but it was against the rules.”