Gaelic football Increase in gamesmanship Gavin Cummiskey looks at adifferent kind of professionalism that's threatening to dominate the game of Gaelic football

In advance of the 1990 World Cup FIFA introduced more stringent measures regarding the "professional foul". The punishment of a red card was brought in to counteract the cynical nature of some of the top defenders.

Their tactic was simple - if your man was likely to score hack him down and concede a free-kick and caution. In a natural response, forwards began to collapse in a state of convulsion at the slightest hint of contact. Overall, the game as a spectacle suffered.

Gamesmanship is now becoming more prevalent in Gaelic football. Fouling on an organised basis - to avoid the threat of a second yellow card - and players going to ground, and staying there, after innocuous challenges have become a feature of this summer's championship.

Paddy Collins is the former chairman of the National Referees Committee (NRC) and has also been the middle-man on All-Ireland final day. He feels that the new style of play is intolerable.

"This type of game is well nigh impossible to adjudicate. I'm not sure what the referees can do as they only operate within the current rulebook.

"Around 1997-'98 skilful players were being allowed to express themselves, negativity was not the order of the day. But it is a different game nowadays with an over emphasis on possession making it difficult, as every attempt to tackle is bordering on a foul.

"It would be a great shame if the new trend forced a fundamental rule change. The apparent feigning of injury is also becoming more common, it is unwelcome in any sport. Referees have to be more aware."

Aussie Rules have counteracted this from seeping into their game by refusing to stall play for injuries and if a player departs the field he cannot return for 20 minutes.

Kerry had no response to the blanket 13-man defence imposed by their northern conquerors last Sunday at Croke Park. Referee Gerry Kinneavy also had no choice but to turn the contest into a stop-start affair, 73 frees in total, such were the tactics employed.

Tyrone crowded their opponents out, even when Darragh Ó Sé began to dominate the aerial duel he was swamped on his return to earth.

Séamus Moynihan described the calamity of the midfield area as being like the densely populated Times Square in New York at rush hour.

"Tyrone are an extremely talented side, why they feel the need to be ultra-defensive I don't know. Personally, I'd like to see them express themselves," added Collins.

Restricting the most feared attack in the country to a meagre six points does not make for quality viewing, but all the great teams in modern sports build their legacy from the back. Armagh did it last year, now their neighbours are following suit.

The Australians call it "flooding", but the tackle and the territorial advantage gained from the mark ensure you cannot pile players behind the ball in their game or International Rules.

Two options are available for football to counteract these tactics - match fire with fire or tighten up the rules.

You can expect the former for the remainder of the championship as Ulster's finest do battle for Sam Maguire, but, barring emergency changes, the rules will not be reviewed until congress in 2005, and no experimentation is forthcoming until 2009.

Official spokesman for the NRC Fr Séamus Gardiner points to the referees being in a no-win situation.

"The difficulty I see really is cautionable fouls. Early in the summer, we were accused of softening up the game and now we're seen to be too strict."

Fr Gardiner advocated the introduction of the sin-bin to deal with repeat or serious offenders, but he highlighted the refereeing body's lack of control over the decision-making process.

"Referees are never consulted about rules, congress pass them, we implement them."

The fact remains that the current obstacles are not going to hinder a team from their goal of winning at all costs. Gaelic football is a more physical sport than soccer, yet the same negative vices are now evident in both.