Eamonn Fitzmaurice fury at ‘regressive’ video ban

Kerry football manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice has slammed the Munster Council’s decision to ban live video analysis on All-Ireland matchdays.

The ‘live feed review’ utilised by most inter-county management teams will not be permitted by the Munster Council at Sunday’s provincial semi-final between Kerry and Tipperary, with Fitzmaurice describing the move as regressive.

Munster Council chief Simon Moroney has pointed to “health and safety” and “cost” issues for banning analytical experts using their own cable to provide management teams with instant replays. Given RTÉ will not be present at Thurles on Sunday, Kerry have applied for permission to record the game and to establish a live feed during the game.

“I find it very surprising this move. Their health and safety concerns can be managed. It looks like a regressive step that in the Munster championship you can’t use live video analysis, but in the other provincial championships you can,” the All-Ireland winning-manager remarked.

“The Ulster Council, two days after each game, put up a very detailed statistical analysis on their website.

“A few years ago when the Australians came to Down for the International Rules, they wouldn’t play in Breffni Park unless there was a specific video analysis room. There was a specific room put in that is still being used today. If we can do it for the Australians, surely we can do it for ourselves? It seems a bit surprising. It is regressive.

“It is a big part of the game nowadays, particularly after games and a lot of teams are using live video analysis during games. It doesn’t make much sense to me to ban it, but I am sure there is a practical reason. It is grand the day the RTÉ cameras are in town, but what are we supposed to do when they are not there, as is the case on Sunday.”

He continued: “We have applied, there is some kind of an application process which you can go through if the game isn’t on live TV.

“We are in the throes of doing that at the moment.”