Use of video evidence to aid referees is urged

Saturday's special meeting of the GAA's Central Council agreed a number of recommendations in response to recent disciplinary controversies. There is little new in terms of powers and procedures but two significant initiatives emerged.

The first can be construed as a stark message to the Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) to exercise its powers under Rule 144. The meeting re-affirmed that the CCCC "may make a written request for clarification from a referee where the committee is in the course of investigating a possible infraction. In that context the CCCC can choose to provide the referee with reliable and unedited video evidence of the possible infraction."

Although not stated in Saturday's official communique, the meeting specifically authorised the CCCC to revisit yellow cards incorrectly administered for red-card offences, a matter of ongoing controversy in recent years.

The CCCC have no power to over-rule a referee on these matters if he stands over his original decision but it will be up to the match official in future to make that call when asked for clarification.

The other important initiative is the establishment of a group to review the association's disciplinary apparatus. This is likely to include consideration of suggestions that the number of avenues of appeal be rationalised. Given that the system must continue to vindicate the legal rights of players the new review group is likely to feature a number of lawyers.

In fact the original proposal specified that the review group should be lawyer-based but it was felt by Central Council that such an overt specification might be seen to impugn the work of bodies such as the Disputes Resolution Authority and the Rule Book Task Force, both of which feature eminent lawyers working for the GAA on a voluntary basis.

In the preamble Saturday's statement pointed out the new system had been working well.

"At the outset it was pointed out that the current disciplinary system has been working effectively. This is borne out by the facts that in 125 cases where suspensions were proposed hearings were requested in only 15 instances."

Furthermore there was anecdotal evidence from the counties that the system was working just as effectively at local level.

The first point in the statement emphasised a general principle.

"It is agreed by Ard-Chomhairle that no system of discipline can be administered satisfactorily unless there is a universal acceptance that indiscipline cannot be tolerated. There must be a change of culture and mindset in terms of respect for authority, for the games officials, rules, procedures and structures."

There were no overt references to criticism of the GAA's procedures and president Nickey Brennan by Cork hurling manager Gerald McCarthy and the county's three suspended hurlers.

Cork county secretary Frank Murphy was in attendance at the meeting, as county Central Council delegate Bob Honohan was on holidays. It is, however, believed that Murphy didn't contribute to the debate although it was confirmed the county had withdrawn their objections to the home and away arrangements for the upcoming All-Ireland hurling qualifiers.

This afternoon there will be a media conference at Croke Park at which Saturday's recommendations will be expanded on and at which it is expected that Brennan will respond to last week's criticisms.

Provincial Councils are to hold meetings with their counties to discuss the matters below.

A range of initiatives to educate members and the public on the operation of the disciplinary system are to take place in the coming weeks.

It was affirmed that arrangements for an appeal are only confirmed once an appeal has been received in writing by the secretary of the Central Appeals Committee, an oral hearing has been requested and all the parties to the hearing have been officially notified of arrangements.

Any county official, team official or players who make derogatory comments in relation to games officials and administrators shall be dealt with in accordance with Rule.

CCCC will no longer make notification of proposed suspensions public until the player or unit has accepted the proposed penalty or the matter has been fully dealt with by the Central Hearings Committee.

A code of conduct for officials or players at all levels of the association is to be established.