Stronger measures necessary to deal with abuse of referees

The Extra Mile, with Westmeath Examiner sports editor Damien Maher

It is a crying shame that we should be again talking about abuse of referees at GAA games at all levels, but it’s no real surprise. There continues to be almost a total lack of respect for referees and their judgement calls and even when they get it right, they become the target.

The incident in neighbouring Offaly was shocking, but not surprising really. It is only a matter a time before there is another assault on a referee somewhere and in all honesty, very little is being done to address the situation. Talking about it and condemning it in public is not enough: the clubs who are responsible for the behaviour of their ‘supporters’ or indeed players need to face sanction.

It should start with loss of home games and thereafter, if there are further problems, the club spends a period in exile. It’s only by introducing these kind of strong, radical measures that the problem will be solved. Sadly, there seems to be no will to do that.

Abuse of referees is out of control: the people in charge don’t know what to do about it and the entire system seems to be broken. It is largely because the penalties that are in place are not tackling the problem. For example, a 96 weeks suspension for the incident in Offaly is open to challenge and even if that doesn't happen, what will it really mean? Is anyone going to seriously police it to make sure the perpetrator serves the time?

Imagine a club waiting to see what suspension the person receives to decide what the next step is? If things were proper, the club would be out immediately to say they are dealing it strongly themselves and the person has been already disciplined. But because there is a culture of abuse, no incident is being properly dealt with.

It’s not just the voluntary people on committees who can’t handle the situation – referees are not helping themselves some of the time. The debacle in Down is a prime example. The appointed referee was objected to and taken out of the game. Another referee stepped in and took charge of the county final.

So, where is the solidarity? Where was the support for Paul Faloon, who was treated disgracefully? Even his own colleagues let him down. It was the ideal opportunity for referees to stick together, but they failed pretty miserably. If there was no game it would really have got the required response: hanging concentrates the mind as they say.

There is little wonder, then, that we have all these incidents – the push on the referee in Offaly; the letter to the referee in Kilkenny (from some one connected to a club who abused and threatened the official, and rather outrageously wished him ill health). When it comes to falling standards, there is no new level it seems.

Sadly, there is no chance of getting on top of it because fixture makers and committee members, who are volunteers, cannot keep pace with the problem. In Westmeath the new Coiste na nÓg chairman and secretary, Barry Kelly and Peter Collins, are inundated with problems. Clubs not only won’t accept the referee’s judgement on the field, they are also challenging the committee in hearings and it’s leading to an overload. Eventually, there will be a straw to break the camel’s back, so to speak, and the committee will simply get exhausted and move away. It is understood Peter Collins will not continue in his role.

Unless there are real sanctions and clubs are forced to accept that they must cultivate respect for referees, the problem will continue.