Oct 10,2024
Deliberate hold-up
Introduce a 5th Category II Infraction (i.e. a Black Card):
"5.15 To deliberately hold up but not pull down an opponent to the ground for the purpose of gaining an advantage
Éamonn Fitzmaurice's rationale
"This is now going to be categorised as a Category 2 infraction - a black card offence.
"Basically, players cottoned on to the fact that when cynically stopping a player, if they managed to hold him up, they weren't going to get a black card.
"Players are so strong and conditioned nowadays, they were able to do a stop-foul and at the same time make sure the player didn't fall to the ground.
"We've upgraded that now to a black card offence."
Head on head contact
Amend Rule Category III Infraction, 5.17 to include (i.e. a Red Card):
"To behave in any way which is dangerous to an opponent. This includes head on head, shoulder on head or elbow on head contact in any tackle attempt, and any form of neck restraint or interference with the neck and throat area."
Éamonn Fitzmaurice's rationale
"One of the medical committees within the GAA have done a lot of work on that... It's definitely something the GAA are working on and whether it will come in for Speical Congress or the Congress in 2025 is yet to be decided.
Contributing to a melee
Add to Category II Infractions:
"To be the third Player into a melee except where a Player's sole intention is to remove a team-mate from the incident – the third man is deemed to have incited and contributed to the melee.
Penalty – Order the offender off for ten minutes in the Sin Bin by showing the offender a Black Card
Éamonn Fitzmaurice's rationale
"As it stands, it's a category 3 infraction - a straight red card offence if you're the third or subsequent person in.
"But referees aren't inclined to use it that much, because they regard it as too penal.
"We saw the famous Armagh-Tyrone game in Armagh City a couple of years ago, when David Gough did use it. But a lot of the time, referees don't use it.
"So, we're trying to make it a bit easier for the referee to control that situation. So, now it's a black card offence.
"Anyone that's the third or subsequent player into a melee can be shown a black card. The only exception is if a player comes in to try and pull a teammate out of a melee - that person doesn't get a black card.
"It's about giving a referee more realistic power to deal with melees. Hopefully, it will make the referee's job a bit easier."
Dissent
6.4
To Show dissent by forcefully challenging the Referee's decision to award a free kick to the opposing team, either verbally or by gesturing.
Penalty – The free kick already awarded shall be taken 50m more advantageous than the place of original kick – up to opponents’ 13m line. Further dissent on an occasion shall be considered as a breach of Rule 6.1 and shall be penalised accordingly.
Éamonn Fitzmaurice's rationale
"The big thing is the 50m penalty.
"A thing that came up a lot in our discussions is the 'Give Respect, Get Respect' campaign. To be honest, it's only given lip service at the minute.
"Any game you go to, there's a lot of back-chat, a lot of stuff from the sidelines. We accept it as part of GAA culture.
"What we're hoping due to the the penalty being as penal as it is, it will just stamp it out of the game once and for all. And players will stop challenging the authority of the referee."
