Joe Brolly

[five points]

If David Gough really thinks that the term pansy is synonymous with being gay, he's not fit to be an elite referee.

[befair]

Always liked O'Rourke, but that was vulgar at best, homophobic at worst

[five points]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBl-vRWV8QU

O'Rourke is taken out of context. Back in his day there were only frees for such tackle. For once I agreed with Charlie Redmond at the weekend, he said the Jordan Flynn's tackle wasn't a red. The game is going soft as shit.

We all know what he meant, but he should be clever enough to know that we can't use that type of phrase.
Very interesting that Gough has called him out, and it's a right mess now for RTE. I don't think they've much choice but to fire him.

Another thing though is that O'Rourke's analysis was completely wrong and actually misleading.
These fellas are not throwing themselves on the ground or exaggerating their falls because they are "pansys" or "unmanly" or whatever similar phrase you want to use.
You'll last no time at all at intercounty if you're actually soft.

They're going down because they are trying to con the ref into giving them a free, and if it results in a card to the opponent, then that's a bonus. It's pure cynicism and even cheating in some cases and it should be called out for what it is, without the need to compare said players to women or gay people!

Now you're comparing pansies to gay people. See where this leads.

[five points]

Always liked O'Rourke, but that was vulgar at best, homophobic at worst

Ditto.

[Hound]

No we're not.
Feigning ignorance is no defence.

[five points]

Ignorance of what exactly?

[JoG2]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBl-vRWV8QU

O'Rourke is taken out of context. Back in his day there were only frees for such tackle. For once I agreed with Charlie Redmond at the weekend, he said the Jordan Flynn's tackle wasn't a red. The game is going soft as shit.

We all know what he meant, but he should be clever enough to know that we can't use that type of phrase.
Very interesting that Gough has called him out, and it's a right mess now for RTE. I don't think they've much choice but to fire him.

Another thing though is that O'Rourke's analysis was completely wrong and actually misleading.
These fellas are not throwing themselves on the ground or exaggerating their falls because they are "pansys" or "unmanly" or whatever similar phrase you want to use.
You'll last no time at all at intercounty if you're actually soft.

They're going down because they are trying to con the ref into giving them a free, and if it results in a card to the opponent, then that's a bonus. It's pure cynicism and even cheating in some cases and it should be called out for what it is, without the need to compare said players to women or gay people!

Can O'Rourke not just apologise and everyone moves on? Why the need for the nuclear only option?

[GetOverTheBar]

O'Rourke and Gough have spoken privately. RTE have nothing further to say.

That's the end of that brief storm.

I admit that had it been Brolly we might have seen it swirl on for awhile.

[pbat]

UPDATE:

RTÉ have confirmed in a statement to SportsJOE that;

"It is RTÉ's understanding that Colm O'Rourke and David Gough have been in touch with each other privately on this matter."

The station has "no further comment" about the remarks made by O'Rourke.
4:04 pm · 3 Feb 2020·Twitter Web App

[five points]

Great news. Compare and contrast the common sense of that with the "he must go!!!" ranters here.

[Taylor]

UPDATE:

RTÉ have confirmed in a statement to SportsJOE that;

"It is RTÉ's understanding that Colm O'Rourke and David Gough have been in touch with each other privately on this matter."

The station has "no further comment" about the remarks made by O'Rourke.
4:04 pm · 3 Feb 2020·Twitter Web App

I certainly do not want to see Colm go as he is good at his job.

But the comment wasnt directed at Gough so how can they have no further comments to make because Colm had a private conversation with Gough?

If this was Brolly the pitchforks would be out.

Is Gough running the show now? He's a referee for feck sake. Thats it

[yellowcard]

It is the correct decision and was taken out of context imo. Watched it live and did think at the time that the PC brigade would be out in force after it. RTE have however created this storm for themselves by setting a new bar for behaviour after firing Brolly and loading all of their sports programmes with vanilla pundits and extra women in the name of political correctness and trying to control their pundits in terms of what they can and can't say. Now people are jumping up and down looking for O'Rourke to go over something fairly trivial. It will just result in pundits becoming even more careful over what is acceptable to say.     

[The Boy Wonder]

I’ve never linked the word pansy with someone who is gay.

A pansy to me is like a weakling, mummy’s boy or a watery wee shite.

Agree totally with above - storm in a teacup.

[imtommygunn]

Joe was on his 3rd or 4th offense too while O'Rourke wouldn't be.

[skeog]

What have we become that the word pansy upsets so many.