THERE IS NOT an appetite yet in the GAA for video referees to be introduced to aid inter-county match officials.
That’s the view of GAA President Aogán Ó Fearghail, who does not envisage the imminent introduction of a video referee to help in key decisions during games.
After the success of the score technology system Hawk-Eye in Croke Park and Semple Stadium, there has been some recent debate about providing further help when ruling on marginal calls.
For example, the recent All-Ireland football semi-final saw referee David Gough forced to make instant decisions when he would have benefited in certain instances from having the assistance of video replays.
Aside from the contentious late call of Kevin McManamon’s challenge on Peter Crowley, there was also a ruling on Aidan O’Mahony’s challenge on Philly McMahon along with a couple of disputed decisions concerning 45′s.
Despite the possibility that teams could be limited to a few calls for video replays per game, the GAA President believes that potentially slowing down the game would not be a positive move.
“It’s always natural that there’s going to be tricky calls. No referee is ever going to get every single call right.
“I think that given the nature of Gaelic football, it is such a fast game and that’s what the crowds love and that’s what everyone likes.
“Anything that slows down the tempo of the game is something that I personally, and I think the GAA generally, would be slow to move towards.
“I don’t think there’s an appetite yet for video referees at any other level than what we currently have.
“We have a standing committee on the playing rules and they would have these conversations constantly and they would consider, because everything should always be thought about.
“But there isn’t enough of a feeling that, that should happen yet in the association.
“We haven’t had any incidents of goals that have been disputed. There was an absolute clarity this year. For all goals that the umpires got it exactly right in signals as such.”
Would you like to see a video referee introduced? Let us know in the comments section.
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
