Advantage rule the hot topic — not the black card

The advantage rule — not the black card — has surprisingly proven to attract the most interest from the GAA public, according to match officials manager Pat Doherty.

The new and permanent Gaelic football rules get their debut in this weekend’s pre-season competitions having come into force on Wednesday. It follows a nationwide education blitz over the past two months where GAA and referee administrators visited every county as well as several inter-county teams.

Doherty said they received more questions about the five-second advantage referees will be permitted to allow a fouled player than any of the other new initiatives.