Time is now to review black card fiasco

A number of prominent Gaelic footballers have called for the black card to be reviewed in the wake of a series of questionable decisions relating to it in this year’s All-Ireland series.

Joining Jim Gavin and James McCarthy, their fellow Dubliner Philly McMahon, Kerry’s Darran O’Sullivan and Ryan McCluskey of Fermanagh all believe change is required.

It’s understood a proposal to amend the parameters of the black card may be put forward before the end of the year with referees expected to discuss it in their championship debriefing this week.

Kerry forward O’Sullivan has been an advocate of the black card but, like Gavin, feels the punishment is too harsh and may be resolved by replacing the automatic substitution with a temporary removal from the game in the form of the sin bin.

“It’s definitely improved the game in terms of cutting down on cynical play but I would like to see it changed to the sin bin,” said O’Sullivan.

“Being replaced for the rest of the game can be harsh whereas five to 10 minutes in a sin bin would be more of a punishment for the team.

“I’ve always been for the black card but they need to tweak it a bit so that there is a full understanding of the rules. There doesn’t seem to be that at the moment and people have different interpretations and there are too many grey areas. It probably should cover all cynical play. That would be the only way of cutting it out altogether.

“If I did something cynical and my team went down to 14 men for five or 10 minutes it would stop me doing it again.”

McMahon, who was black carded in the league game between Dublin and Mayo earlier this year, says there must be something done to be fairer to players.

“It needs to be reviewed, definitely. From a players’ point of view, we do all the pre-season in the cold weather, put so much time into it, work on top of that, then travel up and down the country, four or five hours, and your family travels to see you play and you last three minutes on the pitch! You end up sitting in the stand, thinking: ‘What is this all about?’

“I’m trying to represent the sport, this organisation. What’s in it for me if I’m sitting in the stand after three minutes, after maybe a mistake, or an accidental collision, or whatever it is. It’s so broad and it’s not consistent.”

McMahon knows it’s difficult for referees too.

“I think it’s very tough on referees. In fairness, they’ve done well but it’s something I feel for the players, on All-Ireland final day.”

Fermanagh defender McCluskey argues referees have become bamboozled by the number of punishments they can hand out to players.

“I’ve been on the unfortunate end of a number of them and in one or two instances it was justified. It’s not about having attacks on referees but it probably comes down to them having too many choices. It’s like they’re doing their driving theory test with the multiple choice questions and they have so many options and are confused by it.

“I felt it spoilt the spectacle on Saturday. Lee Keegan’s black card possibly cost him the player of the year award. All the decisions including that and even the penalty baffled me.”

McCluskey would like to see football treated similarly to hurling in terms of what players are permitted and not permitted to do.

“One of the Sky panellists was saying if these incidents were seen on a hurling pitch they would be commended for their bravery and intensity but in Gaelic football you’re seen as a thug.

“There has been talk of an extra referee, one in each half, and that would speed up the game definitely and allow each referee to see more things off the ball.

“But it baffles me when we have two people doing the line, a fourth official and four officials with the referee and they can’t see to get a decision right.

“Maybe it’s time to give the linesmen and umpires bigger roles.”