Referees chief says new tackling directives ‘absolutely necessary’

Referees chief Willie Barrett has rejected Davy Fitzgerald’s suggestion that hurling referees are being put under too much pressure to carry out diktats from Croke Park, leading to unnecessary red cards being doled out.

Following his team’s 1-17 to 2-11 defeat to Limerick on Sunday, Wexford boss Fitzgerald claimed referees are “on edge” because of instructions, issued at a review meeting last week, to clamp down on head-high challenges.