GAA vote to do away with 50m penalty for kick-out mark fouls

On-the-spot frees to come in from this weekend.

RULE CHANGE: A free for a foul on a player successfully claiming a kick-out mark will take place from where the infringement was made starting with this weekend’s All-Ireland SFC preliminary quarter-finals and Tailteann Cup semi-finals. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile.

A free for a foul on a player successfully claiming a kick-out mark will take place from where the infringement was made starting with this weekend’s All-Ireland SFC preliminary quarter-finals and Tailteann Cup semi-finals.

In an electronic vote prompted by the presentation of the proposal at Central Council on Saturday, delegates voted 38 to one in favour of changing the experimental rule as it existed, which was a free brought forward 50 metres.

Players fouled will have the option of taking a free from where the mark was awarded or a solo and go.

That rule had caused major grievances for several inter-county managers including Kerry’s Jack O’Connor and Cork’s John Cleary. Counties had been utilising the option to bring the resultant free outside the 40m arc to kick two-point frees.

The likes of Meath boss Robbie Brennan and Armagh’s 2024 All-Ireland winning manager Kieran McGeeney have questioned the change.

“What does that encourage, though?” said Brennan on Saturday.

“You’re just going to foul the guy, aren’t you? I presume that's what's going to happen. If someone catches, you're just going to foul him and knock that out of his way, so you're probably losing that advantage of going up and winning the mark.

“That rule used to be there, it was a 13-metre free. I don't know why it's still not 13 metre free if you're fouled but look if that's what they bring in, that's what they bring in. As usual, we will just work towards it and practice it.”

Also on Saturday, McGeeney said some counties were influencing the changes. “Some teams tell them to do something, I’d love that direct line. Whoever has that direct line into Jim (Gavin) and Eamonn (Fitzmaurice), I would love that.”