Gaelic GamesAn Réiteoir

Maurice Deegan: First outing for rules will test impact on football but they’re already improving disciplinary culture

I refereed a couple of challenge matches and found the game faster, more demanding, but a lot better behaved

Connacht’s Matthew Tierney starts the game game from the sidelines during the interprovincial series. It's one of the rules changes, with just one player from each team contesting the throw-in, the second player joining from the sideline. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho
Connacht’s Matthew Tierney starts the game game from the sidelines during the interprovincial series. It's one of the rules changes, with just one player from each team contesting the throw-in, the second player joining from the sideline. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho
Maurice Deegan
Sat Jan 25 2025 - 06:00

I was invited to join the Football Review Committee and was pleased to accept. I’m happy to be in a position to help referees by providing their point of view but without forgetting that I’m on the committee to help the Association to improve the game of football.

It’s already an improved environment for referees although there’s a fair bit coming at them this weekend. Doing practice matches and challenges is one thing; doing Tyrone and Derry in the league up in Omagh is another.

Although I’ve retired from intercounty, I was still involved in refereeing a couple of challenge matches and have a sense of what’s involved. I had initial reservations about the whole thing but I’m much more positive now.

I remember when the black card came in and people weren’t totally sure – to put it mildly – but this time, players are able to challenge you on the actual rules and what they are about because they have read them, a reflection of the huge publicity the changes or enhancements have been getting.

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Only the captain is meant to be speaking to the referee under the new rules but these matches were an educational tool and I was glad to engage with genuine queries.

You don’t spend a career as an intercounty referee without being able to tell the difference between, “sorry, what was that for, ref?” and “for f**k’s sake, what was that for?” You don’t have to bring the ball up for the first one but you would for the second.

I was quite surprised that players are saying virtually nothing untoward. I have a feeling this will continue because 50 metres is a lot of ground to give away and if someone’s whingeing and complaining, that’s what it will cost his team.

Tyrone players argue with referee Maurice Deegan after he awarded Mayo a penalty in 2013. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho
Tyrone players argue with referee Maurice Deegan after he awarded Mayo a penalty in 2013. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho

[ Gaelic football rule changes: Everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask ]

Even the 50 metres creates an opportunity for a player to take the free back out past the 40-metre arc and your team is two points down because you couldn’t keep quiet. It’s a big encouragement to behave.

One of the biggest attractions of these rule enhancements is that they are not just affecting the way the game is played but addressing the culture of indiscipline and the way players treat referees.

It also applies to management on the sideline. If there is any verbal abuse, it’s a red or yellow card, followed by a free from the 13-metre line. You could have a lad who’s bawling at you – now he can get a red card and he’s up in the stand watching the other team kicking the ball over the bar.

Then there is the distance covered. I’ve a Garmin watch, which keeps time for me and also records the distance I travel. Generally, I would do between six and seven kilometres when refereeing a game. I was up to nine, 9½ the other day – without me even knowing it. It really surprised me.

It’s full blast between the quicker kick-outs, the solo-and-go speeding it up and the ball in play a lot more. There are also more scores.

In terms of obvious challenges, there has been a lot of talk about the obligation to hand back the ball when a free is awarded against you: how difficult it is because of players’ instincts and how the penalty of the free being advanced by 50 metres is too severe.

An Umpire waves a red flag to signal a 2-point score during the interprovincial clash between Connacht and Ulster. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho
An Umpire waves a red flag to signal a 2-point score during the interprovincial clash between Connacht and Ulster. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho

That reaction is completely exaggerated. I refereed in International Rules tests and that same rule applied. There was never an issue and it policed itself. You handed the ball back and got on with it. It’s another welcome, cultural change.

The 3 v 3 will come with time, as people get used to it. Everyone’s very well drilled and this weekend, referees will have different pairs of eyes looking out for it so I’m not hugely concerned although it does underline the challenge for club referees, many of whom have to take games on their own.

If there’s a particular concern, maybe it’s the solo-and-go, which I think will be used a lot by the better teams.

It starts with a four-metre bubble – the free can be taken within four metres of the foul – and then once he solos it, there’s another four metres where the player can’t be tackled. That’s eight metres leeway, which isn’t that easy for a referee to police but there’s no point identifying problems until they actually arise.

I hope that we see faster games, higher scores and that referees come out of it all with no major controversies beyond obvious, bedding-in issues. Good luck to everyone.

Maurice Deegan was an intercounty referee for over 20 seasons and took charge of three All-Ireland football finals

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