Duffy: Dubs and Donegal damaged association
Duffy was appalled by the “disgusting and shocking” bite on Paddy McBrearty in last April’s Division 1 game between the counties in Ballybofey.
However, he was just as dismayed by the behaviour of both counties in foiling the association’s disciplinary process to get to the bottom of the matter.
Describing what happened in MacCumhaill Park as “one of the low points of 2013”, Duffy wrote: “There is agreement on the fact that, during the game, Donegal player Patrick McBrearty sustained a severe bite to his arm. That was a disgusting and shocking incident in itself, but what is just as reprehensible is that no one could be held to account for what happened.
“The Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) investigated the matter as thoroughly as possible, but was greatly hindered by the absence of video and other evidence. The CCCC, therefore, was reliant on the integrity of those involved to play their part in ensuring that justice was served. However, no one was proved to have inflicted the bite simply because no one admitted to having done so and because the player who was bitten decided not to attend a hearing on the case.”
Donegal manager Jim McGuinness defended McBrearty’s decision not to attend a Central Hearings Committee meeting, stating he was the victim, had given his account and “didn’t want to go into a room and point the finger at somebody”.
Duffy, though, insisted it was Donegal’s duty to follow through on the claim that they had made.
“The counties involved may have chosen to deal with this incident solely in terms of their own interests; be that as it may, they did not emerge with any credit and succeeded only in damaging the reputation of the association.
“It also brought unfair and totally unjustified criticism on our disciplinary system. The CCCC and the Central Hearings Committee did everything within their power to ensure that the perpetrator was held to account.
“But the responsibility for limiting the damage to the reputation of the association lay with players, team officials and county committee officers. Leadership was required from the counties involved to protect the good name of the association: it is disappointing that it was not forthcoming.”
Duffy revealed Central Council later issued a directive making biting a category III ban, carrying a minimum suspension of eight weeks — an increase of five weeks on the previous punishment for such an action.
But speaking yesterday after the launch of his report Duffy said the extent of the suspension was inconsequential.
“For any player who is found to have bitten another player, I don’t think the length of the penalty is important, it would be a blot or stain on his reputation, I think that would be punishment enough.”
Duffy also wrote about his disappointment in seeing a number of red card decisions being overturned by disciplinary committees last year.
According to him, some were successfully questioned contrary to rule and on the “opinion of a county or provincial official present at the game or an admission by another player that it was he who committed the infraction”.
He wrote: “There has been a sufficient number of questionable rescindments of late to justify a concern that we are in danger of sliding back to a time when players were cleared on the flimsiest of evidence, simply to make them available for the next big game.
“This cannot be allowed to happen.”
Meanwhile, Duffy was delighted to report an increase of over 5% in championship attendances last year from 2012. He put the jump down to a combination of factors including new provincial and All-Ireland challengers coming to the fore, a strong marketing campaign and the good weather.
A total of 1,489,205 attended championship games last season, 613,100 in provincial games. As 2012 also featured a hurling final replay, the figures weren’t misleading.
The director general also insisted there would be no turning back on the black card.
DUFFY ON...
“It is an experiment that is unlikely to be repeated. Players have a valid point when they say that a full working day does not facilitate the mental and physical preparation necessary for a championship game, a consideration that is a sufficiently strong argument on its own to rule out a repeat of the experiment. Nor can there be any question of meeting requests to compensate players financially for the loss of earning on the day of a championship game: such compensation would be in breach of our amateur status rules.”
“Releasing the incorrect composition of teams to the media in advance of championship games became the norm rather than the exception during the 2013 championship. The practice is, frankly, an embarrassment, is disrespectful to supporters and undermines our attempts to promote and market our games. It appears that we have a choice to make. If we believe that the release of teams in advance is important — and it is — then we must penalise counties that do not field a starting team as announced. If the implementation of such a rule is considered impractical, then we should insist that counties release a panel list of 26 players five days before a game and that the addition of another player on match day is prohibited.” (Duffy’s preferred option is the latter one).
“It is important that support be given to players who are trying to cope with a gambling addiction. Equally, there is a clear need for the association to develop clear guidelines, even rules to govern betting by players on games. One obvious rule would be that players would not be permitted to bet on a game in which they are participating.”
“The AFL may face more significant challenges in ensuring the availability of their top stars. However, it is the AFL’s stated intention to examine how this can best be achieved. If they are successful in this context, the Series may well have a long-term future; if not, I fear it will spell the end of the International Rules.”
“A successful bid will involve an upgrade of facilities at some of the GAA grounds in order to meet the specific requirements of the Rugby World Cup. We have made it clear that such upgrades must be funded, in large part, by government.”
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