Referees warned to get black card calls right

Championship football referees will be told their handling of the black card must improve at next month’s meeting of the 16 match officials.

The difficulties experienced by David Coldrick and Joe McQuillan over the last two weekends have created alarm about top referees’ ability to administer the new rule, aimed at taking a number of cynical fouls out of the game.

While there has been a degree of disappointment among refereeing authorities with the level of criticism aimed at the referees, particularly Coldrick after his performance in Omagh last Sunday week, there is also a realisation mistakes were made.

Just two full weekends into the championship, few could have imagined a fierier baptism for the black card. Referees will be reminded that a repeat of the errors in Omagh and Derry can’t continue.

Neither game is set to impact greatly on the appointment of either referee, with Coldrick and McQuillan expected to return to the championship rota later next month.

Their reputations are still held in high regard with one refereeing official asking rhetorically: “Would James McCartan drop Donal O’Hare after he missed that free?”

Meanwhile, Irish Examiner columnist and two-time All-Ireland SFC final referee John Bannon has discovered material that explains the rule book and suggests it was not within Coldrick’s power to make two calls in Tyrone’s favour in last Sunday week’s draw with Down.

According to the 2003 GAA referees’ handbook, a questions and answers set reveals the Meath referee should neither have brought a 45 forward for Tyrone because of dissent not awarded the free that Sean Cavanagh scored to level the game.

In the chapter entitled “Issues of Interpretation, Clarification and Guidance”, it confirmed a 45 cannot be moved 13 metres more advantageous where dissent is shown.

The suggestion is Coldrick took the decision to make Tyrone’s first half 45 into a 32-metre free on the basis of a directive from GAA authorities. Encroachment on 45s and frees appeared to be an issue last year, especially in the Ulster quarter-final in Ballybofey when Donegal players were within 13 metres from Niall Morgan’s long-range kicks.

The 2003 handbook also states that a sideline cut/ball cannot be brought forward. Coldrick awarded Tyrone a free after Cavanagh was clearly fouled off the ball as Stephen O’Neill prepared to take a sideline kick.

At Central Council on Saturday, it was confirmed guidance on the particular 45 and sideline rules was being sought from the playing rules committee. However, Bannon is concerned club referees will take their lead from inter-county match officials, regardless of what directive the group will provide.

“We all look at the TV games on a Sunday and a small percentage of players and managers look at how the rules are applied by the 16 championship referees,” he said. “But I believe a high percentage of club referees watch every decision and discuss it with their fellow referees and take the example from that.

“That’s why what they do at inter-county level affects all the club games later on in the year.

“Everyone accepts that part two of the official guide is the rule book under which all football and hurling games are played, but we need updated clarifications if they have changed from previous ones.”