It’s time to tackle the blight of ugly brawls
VIOLENCE SEEMS to be as synonymous with Gaelic games lately as it is with the more bloody worlds of boxing and mixed martial arts.
However, at least in the ring and the octagon it’s the name of the game where your opponent steps into the fray expecting a barrage of unmerciful thumps.
G.A.A. isn’t supposed to be like that. The physical battle is obviously an important one, but all aggression should be within the rules of the game, as athleticism, courage and skill is put to the test.
Of course, us followers of our ancient games are every bit as culpable as those responsible for the disgraceful actions on the field of play. How often do we see the baying hordes rub their hands with glees as an auld schemozzle breaks out?
Folk talk with almost hushed reverence about the mass brawl that blighted the 1996 All-Ireland football final or several bouts of fisticuffs in the International Rules series, where the game was almost secondary to the atrocious on-field violence.
A quick search online will give you various articles and videos ranking the best G.A.A. brawls of all-time that are listed and glorified like some ghastly badge of honour for those involved.
I’m guilty of trivialising it myself, simply shrugging my shoulders when I see an all too regular incident, instead of being any way shocked by it.
When there’s a dust-up in a match, I’d barely raise an eyebrow unless those on the sideline got involved.
If it gets to that venomous stage, it should be pretty obvious to all that the line has been crossed with too much brutality, but now is the time for that line to be redrawn at a point of almost zero tolerance.
Whether it’s widely admitted or not, most accept the odd freefor-all on the pitch as part and parcel of the game, as some sort of manly posturing that’s ‘only a bit of handbags’ or ‘getting to know each other’.
However, as a father of young children, is that something I want them to see as a regular part of our sports? If we continue down this path, it’s only a matter of time before a punch in the wrong place, or somebody hitting their head off an advertising hoarding, for example, leads to a fatality.
The size, power and sheer bulk of some of the players at present could inflict serious damage at the best of times, but when you see blindside blows being thrown on unsuspecting victims it’s clear that somebody, somewhere will almost certainly suffer life-changing injuries, or worse.
We’ve seen lots of violence in recent weeks as videos are shared by all and sundry showing despicable incidents from matches the length and breadth of the country.
It’s probably the case that these sort of flashpoints are no more prevalent now than they ever were, it’s just that camera phones and social media have thrust them firmly in the public eye.
However, when a problem is glaringly brought to your attention that is the time to act. There’s no point burying your head in the sand, ostrich-like, saying ‘sure hasn’t the G.A.A. survived for years’. It’s crucial that something is done now, before we’re reading about a fatality and the words ‘I told you so’ echo through the corridors of power in Croke Park.
With Dingle selector Colm Geaney receiving a paltry eightweek ban for a cowardly blow on East Kerry footballer Dara Moynihan it wouldn’t instil great confidence that the issue will be dealt with in a satisfactory manner, but we as a public need to alter our mindset and put the pressure on for real change.
Thuggery and the one in, all in approach should no longer be seen as an acceptable part of the games any more. It doesn’t go unpunished in other sports, so the same should apply to the G.A.A.
If there was a mass brawl in a soccer game, for example, it would result in severe sanctions for the individuals and clubs involved. More often than not in the G.A.A., two yellow cards are handed out, the ball is thrown in and we get on with the game.
Some would argue that it’s nigh on impossible to stop such teak-tough battles from spilling over from time to time, but if the will is there and the punishments meted out are severe enough, you wouldn’t be long about eradicating the problem from a game.
Of course, we don’t want to lose the physicality, which is such a big part of Gaelic football and hurling, but there has to be a clear and distinct boundary which can’t be crossed.
From spending many hours covering games, it’s blatantly obvious that overcrowded sidelines only add to the problem.
When you have rival benches exchanging insults so close to the action it fuels the fire of any hostilities simmering on the field of play.
That’s just one small example of something which could be easily done to take the heat out of the furnace, by implementing strict rules instead of having dozens patrolling the sidelines like lions circling their prey.
Such small measures could make the world of difference and the G.A.A. needs to clean up its act before somebody unnecessarily loses their life.
Then it’s the Association that would be taken to the cleaners.