Meath legend Seán Boylan wants cynical play punished with four-point penalty

Playing rules committee member Seán Boylan wants cynical play punished in real time on the field of play.

Boylan is part of the Jarlath Burns-chaired group, which recommended a number of measures to Central Council including the mark and solo free in Gaelic football as well as the recognition of substitutions as official stoppages. It is the Meath legend’s contention the black card, while it has helped “an awful lot”, has not done enough to curb cynical play: “Why bring it in if it’s not going to have meaning?” he asked.

Punishing cynical fouls in the form of penalties is something he suggests. “I put it to you this way: say somebody pulls a player down and there’s a minute to go. For doing that, instead of a black card or a yellow card there’s a penalty but that penalty would be four points and not three points.”