GAA President Larry McCarthy has announced that this weekend, and specifically this Sunday, will be dedicated to their ‘Respect the Referee’ campaign, in response to many incidents in recent weeks that have marred the sport including verbal and physical assaults on Officials.
In a statement on the announcement, a Uachtaráin stated “Actions need to speak louder than words when it comes to respecting for our referees because allegations around the actions of a small few has cast a shadow over the entire Association.”
Referencing the GAA manifesto, Larry McCarthy mentions the importance of officials in our game, “To be the embodiment of the GAA manifesto, Where We All Belong requires that no one is left out or left behind. The people who act as match officials make a contribution that our games cannot exist without. They are as important to the GAA as every player, coach, committee member, and volunteer. They are dedicated to Gaelic games, have a passion for their vocation, and have families who are proud of the contribution they make.”
Larry McCarthy also encourages clubs to support match officials and make them feel appreciated for their contribution to the sport.
The response is deemed necessary as we have seen some severe cases of physical assault on officials in both Roscommon and Wexford, with both alleged assaulters being given potential 96-week bans by their County organisations.
The GAA is encouraging all Counties to carry this message across the weekend in the staging of multiple county finals with those who’ve already completed their club campaigns asked to use it across their website.
Finally the organistion announce that they are going to internally review their own disciplinary system and the penalties they carry to potentiall increase punishment and force these incidents out of our sport.
Samuel Mansfield
26-year-old TV, Radio, and New Media graduate from MTU Kerry based in the Kingdom with a passion for a variety of sports.