Calls for campaign to protect referees
Assaults on officials due to lack of respect in games
THE chairman of Wexford GAA has called for a Government-funded ad campaign to promote respect for referees after serious assaults across Ireland in recent weeks.
County chairman Micheál Martin told the Irish Daily Mail that the English FA had a very effective campaign in Britain to promote respect at soccer games and it is time for something similar here.
‘It is a societal problem, across all sports, this challenge to authority when passions are heightened. It’s time for Sport Ireland to come together with the sporting bodies to develop an effective education campaign,’ he said.
His comments come as gardaí continue to investigate alleged assaults on a GAA referee and umpire in Wexford on Sunday, although Mr Martin stressed that he is speaking generally and not about any specific assault.
The alleged assaults happened after a Junior ‘A’ football championship match between St Joseph’s
‘More clubs are streaming games’
and Our Lady’s Island at Whiterock Hill.
It was the second such alleged assault on a Wexford referee in recent weeks.
A member of the Naomh Éanna club was handed a proposed 72week ban after the Wexford CCC investigated an assault of a referee at the end of the Na Fianna Clonard/Naomh Éanna county junior ‘B’ hurling semi-final.
Its understood that Mr Martin has invited the Wexford Referees’ Administration Committee and all Wexford referees to a meeting in Chadwick’s Wexford Park GAA stadium this week to discuss what to do about the alleged assaults.
In a statement yesterday, Wexford GAA said: ‘Wexford GAA are disappointed that such an incident arose and strongly condemns any threatening or abusive behaviour towards our match officials of any kind.’
Mr Martin said there has to be ‘clear messaging’ for young people about respect for referees, mentors and everyone else involved in sport, which could come through an effective ad campaign.
He also said he would like the GAA to review its disciplinary proceedings to ensure it is dealing effectively with referee assaults.
Wexford-based James Owens, who has refereed several All Ireland finals, said it would send a strong statement if GAA headquarters were to take a direct role in investigating assaults on referees, rather than leaving it to county central committees.
‘It would help take the pressure from the counties,’ he said
Like Mr Martin, Mr Owens stressed that he was speaking in general and not about the recent alleged assaults in Wexford.
Mr Owens said that the proliferation of phone cameras and social media has led to much greater awareness of the recent assaults on referees.
‘There have been problems before social media but now news of it travels so fast.
‘Also, post-Covid, more clubs are streaming their games, so, again there is more video evidence,’ he added.
Mr Owens said that sporting organisations should remind parents, mentors and everyone else that the games are meant to be played in a spirit of fun and shouldn’t be taken so seriously.
Meanwhile, Mayo GAA is investigating an alleged assault that led to the abandonment of a minor football match in Josie Munnelly Park on Sunday evening.
Castlebar Mitchels were leading Westport 2-5 to 1-2 when there was an alleged assault at the goalmouth involving an adult nonplayer and an under-17 player, it has been reported by Midwest Radio. In a short statement released this morning, Mayo GAA said it was ‘aware of an incident’ that occurred during an U17 gaelic football semi-final between Westport and Castlebar on Sunday evening.
‘Mayo County Board are awaiting the official referee’s report and will address the matter at a CCC [Competition Controls Committee] meeting later this week. No further comment will be made at this time by Mayo GAA County Board,’ said PRO John Walker.
This is the latest in a series of controversies impacting the GAA club scene in recent weeks.
As reported last week, Roscommon GAA’s central committee has proposed a 96-week suspension for a GAA official allegedly involved in an on-pitch attack that led to the hospitalisation of referee Kevin Naughton.
The U-17 clash between St Aidan’s and St Dominic’s, hosted by Ballyforan in late August, was abandoned as a result. It was subsequently reported that the official under investigation has sought a full hearing.
This is the latest in a series of incidents