Twiss: lack of respect for officials is a huge concern

KERRY GAA Secretary Peter Twiss has warned that the lack of respect for referees and officials in the Association will do more damage to the sport than the issues regarding fixtures ever will if it is not eradicated.

In his address to annual Convention last Monday Twiss said: “A more pressing concern is the lack of respect within the Association for those who give of the their time voluntarily, be they referees, stewards, officials or whoever. The problem has become endemic and appears at all levels from juvenile to senior games, involving supporters, parents, players and team mentors.

“Why this is so and what can be done about it, I don’t know, but I feel rather than expending all our energies on the high-profile incidents, we need, as an organisation, to focus on finding solutions to this much more prevalent issue.

“If left go unchecked, it will do more damage to our games than problems with fixtures ever will.”

On the recent on-field incidents of violence that made national news Mr Twiss said:

“Some unsavoury incidents involving high-profile games and personnel did not serve the county well this year. The coverage of these events by the media diverged, as seems to be the norm these days, into two distinct strands. One being accurate, fair and informative, the other inaccurate, over the top and based wholly on hearsay.

“While the above-mentioned incidents have no place in our games, their frequency is, thankfully, rare enough. Indeed, I believe the amount of such incidents in and around the playing fields have diminished a lot over the last 20 years. However, any such incident is one too many.

“Each and every individual, regardless of who he or she is, or whatever their role with any team is or whether they find themselves on a sideline or in the stand is subject to the same laws that applies to everyone else in this country. They must realise... that society has not granted anybody permission to use a sports occasion to justify this sort of behaviour.