Waterford selector Stephen Frampton: 'Referees are refereeing games in fear at the moment'

'They’re more worried about pleasing that person up in the stand than concentrating on keeping a match flowing or keeping a match refereed correctly'

Waterford selector Michael Bevans speaks to players during a water break, as Waterford selector Stephen Frampton, left, and Waterford manager Liam Cahill watch on. Picture: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Waterford selector Stephen Frampton feels that hurling referees are under too much pressure from the assessors in the stand.

In his view, this has contributed to the controversial sin bins in this year’s championship. Déise defender Shane Fives was dismissed for a foul on Aron Shanagher in their Munster Championship defeat to Clare while Banner forward Aidan McCarthy was sin-binned against Tipperary a week later.