Gaelic football black card gets go-ahead

The GAA's proposal to introduce a new "black card" offence for Gaelic football will be implemented into rule from January 1, 2014.

Delegates at today's annual GAA Congress in Derry overwhelmingly backed the proposal by 70.82% to 29.18% which will see referees award a black card for fouls classified as 'cynical behaviour'.

This means that any black card shown to a player will result in a mandatory substitution, while if a team receives three black cards during a match, any subsequent cards will result in a player leaving the pitch with no replacement allowed.

A number of new rules are included in this category, with the following now classified as cynical behaviour:

- A deliberate body collision with an opponent after he has played the ball away or for the purpose of taking him out of the movement of play' will result in a black card;

- Deliberately pulling down an opponent or tripping an opponent with a hand, arm or foot, and abusive or provocative language or gestures to players, as well as remonstrating in an aggressive manner with a match official.