National Referees' Committee criticised

There was criticism for the Referees' Committee in CrokePark from Wolfe Tones delegate Owen Heaney at tonight's Co Board meeting in Navan.

'There was an incident in the second-half at the NHL Div 2B final in Newbridge when a Meath player was inured and receiving treatment on the pitch and the referee would not stop the play,' he commented.

'The play should have been stopped as the player was obviously badly injured and it was a major disadvantage for Meath in the closing minutes of the game,' he added.

Meath Referees' Co-ordinator Donal Smyth explained the instructions that have been issued from CrokePark.

'We have been told that play must continue unless there is a serious injury and that's what we have to do,' explained the Meath Co-ordinator.

There was a suggestion that this matter should be reviewed with the appropriate body.

There was also bad news on the refereeing front for Meath club games with a lot of referees refusing to officiate at lower grade games like the B FLs and some of the lesser championships.

Donal Smyth warned that it’s not far from the day when games will not be played because there will be no referee available.

Fixtures secretary Jimmy Henry told delegates that the current computerised fixtures system reduces direct verbal contact with the referees.

“This makes it easier for them to opt out of some games, all they have to do is click a response, we should consider taking official GAA passes off the referees who refuse to officiate,” he suggested.

 

Conall Collier