FRC to propose rule modifications including black card extension
30 November 2024; GAA Football Review Committee chairperson Jim Gavin during the GAA Special Congress 2024 at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
The Football Review Committee has proposed a retention of the new rules with some modifications ahead of the vote on their future at Special Congress.
Permanent adoption of the new Gaelic football rules after a 2025 trial will be decided on October 4 at Croke Park. The FRC has proposed that the rules remain but has listed a number of tweaks.
These include: penalising early movement by players before 1v1 throw-ins, changing the kick-out mark delay penalty from a throw-in to a free kick, and clarifying enforcement of “Solo and Go” distance.
A black card would be extended to jersey-pulling in goal-scoring situations. Currently, the black card applies to deliberately pulling down an opponent or to deliberately tripping an opponent with the hand(s), arm, leg, or foot.
They have also put forward extending penalty awards for cynical fouls in goal-scoring situations to club competitions, clarifying conditions for two-point scores when touched by the opposition, and empowering neutral sideline officials to report foul play.
The Games Intelligence Unit also published its report for the 2025 season. A total of 212 games from the campaign were analysed, encompassing all fixtures from the National League, Provincial Championship, Tailteann Cup, and Sam Maguire Cup.
This season recorded the highest number of goals and points in the past four years. In championship football (Provincial and Sam Maguire), teams averaged 2.1 goals and 39.7 total points per game. Goals increased slightly compared to 2.1 compared to 2.0, while total points, excluding two-point scores, also rose to 1,849 in 2025 from 2024 in 1,785.
The new throw-in rule has resulted in fouls committed within 10 seconds of the start of play 22% of the time. Previously, it was 45%.
This reduction in fouls has contributed to more scores at the start of each half directly from the throw-up, 38% in the 2025 championship compared to 25%.
The 2025 championship saw a decrease in both handpassing and kick passing. Across the last three championships, teams averaged 547 passes per game (126 kick passes and 421 hand passes). In the 2025 championship, this dropped to 394 hand passes (81%) and 90 kick passes per game (19%) a total of 484 passes. The report does point out that the the “Solo & Go” reduces the number of kick passes.
GAA President Jarlath Burns paid tribute to the FRC and its chairperson Jim Gavin.
“It is no exaggeration to state that we have got our game back and at inter-county level both the Allianz Leagues and GAA Championship as competitions bore this out,” said Burns.
“There was a degree of nervousness around how the same rules might apply from the highest level down into our club competitions, but this too has been a huge success, bedding in well and breathing life back into our game amongst the largest cohort that plays it – namely our club players.
“Needless to say, this juncture has not been reached by accident. An incredible amount of work was undertaken by the Football Review Committee and its chairperson Jim Gavin – work that began the day after Congress 2024 in Newry.
“The diligence of those charged with embracing what was an onerous task is something we should be grateful for and is one of the reasons the process ran in the efficient manner that it did.”
He went on to praise the various stakeholders involved in the process before looking forward to next month’s congress.
“The rule changes will now go before Special Congress with a view to having them included in the permanent rules of Gaelic football and our delegates will ultimately debate associated issues before providing their verdict.
“It has been a busy and ultimately productive period for the great game and one that leaves the code in an infinitely better state, a belief supported by the transformation of the national commentary around the game.”
