Assaults at GAA games

[smort]

Would limiting access to the pitch help a bit? It's not something I'd take lightly as I think it's great to see the kids on the pitch at HT and FT but in other sports, once someone accesses the pitch there's usually stewards after them whereas in GAA nobody would bat an eyelid until it might be too late?

Would agree with this. Was nervous at the end of a few intercounty matches this season, most seemed to end with a pitch invasion. Feel like it's an accident waiting to happen

[trileacman]

This will likely be an unpopular opinion, but referees have been feeding this beast for years, by turning a blind eye during matches, and accepting post-match apologies deliberately feigned to ensure a more favourable report. And now they can no longer control the beast.

Now they need to take control again, which means getting together and forcing through a new code, along the lines of:

1. personal abuse from player or mentor - immediate red card.
2. more than two instances from the one side - match abandoned.
3. abuse from supporters - registered as a complaint with their CCCC.  Every second complaint sees the reversal of a home match, or a requirement to play with no spectators for a match.

And re no. 1, suspensions should work on a multiplier level and carried over two seasons. First offence, 1 match ban. Second instance, two match ban, and so on.

Perhaps more importantly, they need to police this from within. If they find tgat one of their own is being lenient on personal abuse, then sanction him.

One season of learning and heartache for players, mentors and supporters would clean up football forever.

I don't think that's the problem at all. More so I think it's the media culture to rake over every referees mistake and second guess every call. This happens across all sports. The increased analysis has often identified the ref as the villain.

I remember 10/15 years ago rugby had this reputation for complete respect for referees and how'd there would be no back chat and only the captain would consult with him etc. That is now completely gone. Watch a rugby match and it's constant shouting at the referees, intimidation of them, remonstrating with them after a game. Soccer is the same, klopp, mourinho, arteta, Guardiola all know they can intimidate officials to get calls in their favour.

[AustinPowers]

Would limiting access to the pitch help a bit? It's not something I'd take lightly as I think it's great to see the kids on the pitch at HT and FT but in other sports, once someone accesses the pitch there's usually stewards after them whereas in GAA nobody would bat an eyelid until it might be too late?

Would agree with this. Was nervous at the end of a few intercounty matches this season, most seemed to end with a pitch invasion. Feel like it's an accident waiting to happen

Yeah I agree.  An accident  waiting to happen .  And I can't imagine all  players  are happy with these  post match invasions

I  remember watching  a game  involving Armagh in  the league.  Think it might have been   the late defeat to  Galway. Anyway,  when the whistle went ,  youngsters streamed onto the pitch , one lad  ran  up to  jarlath og burns , and stuck a  camera in his face.  No harm to the lad , but jarlath had to stand there  seconds after  gutting defeat and  put on his best face  for a selfie.  It's hardly appropriate

Let the teams do their warm down , get into their  huddle. Stick  a track top in them at least , then any youngsters  who stay behind ,  can have a  selfie/autograph  when the players have regained their thoughts somewhat and it can be done in a  safe and controlled manner

[statto]

Would limiting access to the pitch help a bit? It's not something I'd take lightly as I think it's great to see the kids on the pitch at HT and FT but in other sports, once someone accesses the pitch there's usually stewards after them whereas in GAA nobody would bat an eyelid until it might be too late?

Would agree with this. Was nervous at the end of a few intercounty matches this season, most seemed to end with a pitch invasion. Feel like it's an accident waiting to happen

Yeah I agree.  An accident  waiting to happen .  And I can't imagine all  players  are happy with these  post match invasions

I  remember watching  a game  involving Armagh in  the league.  Think it might have been   the late defeat to  Galway. Anyway,  when the whistle went ,  youngsters streamed onto the pitch , one lad  ran  up to  jarlath og burns , and stuck a  camera in his face.  No harm to the lad , but jarlath had to stand there  seconds after  gutting defeat and  put on his best face  for a selfie.  It's hardly appropriate

Let the teams do their warm down , get into their  huddle. Stick  a track top in them at least , then any youngsters  who stay behind ,  can have a  selfie/autograph  when the players have regained their thoughts somewhat and it can be done in a  safe and controlled manner

+1. 

Heard stories of county goalkeepers getting dogs abuse for not giving his gloves to children from parents after a game. 

[ONeill]

Scotchy Conway wouldn't sign my arm in 1986.

[Baile Brigín 2]

I've never been to an amateur or Sunday league soccer game - does the same go on there or is it worse at GAA games?

Never heard of a referee being stabbed at the soccer, so no.

But why even start the whataboutery

I don't think O'Neill is going for the "whataboutery" angle. Seemed like a genuine question to me.

I too would be interested in the answer. I am imaging there wouldn't be the same vitriol as you don't have the same parish vibes and that the soccer games are a gather up of people from everywhere with less spectators.

Referees went on strike in Dublin and last year. Abuse happens. The difference is it isn't tolerated.

And spare us the 'we are more passionate' justification

What shite are you spouting now? Who is the "we" ?

I am saying that GAA club matches probably have more of a crowd and the crowd has more of a connection to the team given the parish rule compared to an amateur soccer team who can transfer players in from everywhere.

I am also none the wiser as to whether the same abuse and vitriol is directed at referees in the amateur soccer league games.

You are saying that any better behaviour towords referees in soccer is because soccer fans aren't passionate enough to attack referees. Are you sure about that?

I think abuse of referees happens along the same lines in soccer. But the associations deal with it robustly, which simply doesn't happen in the GAA

Absolutely never said such a thing. If you have 200 people at a match, there is more likelihood of a trouble maker being in attendance compared to a crowd of 20.

Also with increased numbers comes increased chances of people clashing with each other, verbally or physically in the crowd.

I don't know how soccer deals with abuse of referees. I do know that there are far too many loopholes and appeals in GAA when it comes to punishments and sanctions. Instead of sucking it up and taking your medicine, a lot of people's first reaction is to try and get out of the suspension.

There should be zero tolerance to abuse of referees, in any shape or form. Without them, there would simply be no games.

Irish league and league of Ireland crowds dwarf gaa club games. Your argument is silly.

[marty34]

This will likely be an unpopular opinion, but referees have been feeding this beast for years, by turning a blind eye during matches, and accepting post-match apologies deliberately feigned to ensure a more favourable report. And now they can no longer control the beast.

Now they need to take control again, which means getting together and forcing through a new code, along the lines of:

1. personal abuse from player or mentor - immediate red card.
2. more than two instances from the one side - match abandoned.
3. abuse from supporters - registered as a complaint with their CCCC.  Every second complaint sees the reversal of a home match, or a requirement to play with no spectators for a match.

And re no. 1, suspensions should work on a multiplier level and carried over two seasons. First offence, 1 match ban. Second instance, two match ban, and so on.

Perhaps more importantly, they need to police this from within. If they find tgat one of their own is being lenient on personal abuse, then sanction him.

One season of learning and heartache for players, mentors and supporters would clean up football forever.

I don't think that's the problem at all. More so I think it's the media culture to rake over every referees mistake and second guess every call. This happens across all sports. The increased analysis has often identified the ref as the villain.

I remember 10/15 years ago rugby had this reputation for complete respect for referees and how'd there would be no back chat and only the captain would consult with him etc. That is now completely gone. Watch a rugby match and it's constant shouting at the referees, intimidation of them, remonstrating with them after a game. Soccer is the same, klopp, mourinho, arteta, Guardiola all know they can intimidate officials to get calls in their favour.

Nowhere as bad in rugby.

Not even close and to compare GAA and rugby is a joke.

[HiMucker]

I've never been to an amateur or Sunday league soccer game - does the same go on there or is it worse at GAA games?

Never heard of a referee being stabbed at the soccer, so no.

But why even start the whataboutery

I don't think O'Neill is going for the "whataboutery" angle. Seemed like a genuine question to me.

I too would be interested in the answer. I am imaging there wouldn't be the same vitriol as you don't have the same parish vibes and that the soccer games are a gather up of people from everywhere with less spectators.

Referees went on strike in Dublin and last year. Abuse happens. The difference is it isn't tolerated.

And spare us the 'we are more passionate' justification

What shite are you spouting now? Who is the "we" ?

I am saying that GAA club matches probably have more of a crowd and the crowd has more of a connection to the team given the parish rule compared to an amateur soccer team who can transfer players in from everywhere.

I am also none the wiser as to whether the same abuse and vitriol is directed at referees in the amateur soccer league games.

You are saying that any better behaviour towords referees in soccer is because soccer fans aren't passionate enough to attack referees. Are you sure about that?

I think abuse of referees happens along the same lines in soccer. But the associations deal with it robustly, which simply doesn't happen in the GAA

Absolutely never said such a thing. If you have 200 people at a match, there is more likelihood of a trouble maker being in attendance compared to a crowd of 20.

Also with increased numbers comes increased chances of people clashing with each other, verbally or physically in the crowd.

I don't know how soccer deals with abuse of referees. I do know that there are far too many loopholes and appeals in GAA when it comes to punishments and sanctions. Instead of sucking it up and taking your medicine, a lot of people's first reaction is to try and get out of the suspension.

There should be zero tolerance to abuse of referees, in any shape or form. Without them, there would simply be no games.

I don't believe crowd size is the issue, so much as virtually no sanctions in place for lack of control over supporters.

The way I see it is that if St Mary's were likely to lose a home fixture because their supporter big John Smith can't keep his mouth shut, then St Mary's wouldn't be long finding ways to educate or exclude Big John Smith.

Whereas at the minute, it's a load of nonsense, for if the same Big John Smith happens to get fingered for his actions, he'll get an 8 week ban from GAA games. And he'll be at matches every week for those 8 weeks.

I think that might be a bit of an excessive punishment, and not to mention illegal.

[thewobbler]

I've never been to an amateur or Sunday league soccer game - does the same go on there or is it worse at GAA games?

Never heard of a referee being stabbed at the soccer, so no.

But why even start the whataboutery

I don't think O'Neill is going for the "whataboutery" angle. Seemed like a genuine question to me.

I too would be interested in the answer. I am imaging there wouldn't be the same vitriol as you don't have the same parish vibes and that the soccer games are a gather up of people from everywhere with less spectators.

Referees went on strike in Dublin and last year. Abuse happens. The difference is it isn't tolerated.

And spare us the 'we are more passionate' justification

What shite are you spouting now? Who is the "we" ?

I am saying that GAA club matches probably have more of a crowd and the crowd has more of a connection to the team given the parish rule compared to an amateur soccer team who can transfer players in from everywhere.

I am also none the wiser as to whether the same abuse and vitriol is directed at referees in the amateur soccer league games.

You are saying that any better behaviour towords referees in soccer is because soccer fans aren't passionate enough to attack referees. Are you sure about that?

I think abuse of referees happens along the same lines in soccer. But the associations deal with it robustly, which simply doesn't happen in the GAA

Absolutely never said such a thing. If you have 200 people at a match, there is more likelihood of a trouble maker being in attendance compared to a crowd of 20.

Also with increased numbers comes increased chances of people clashing with each other, verbally or physically in the crowd.

I don't know how soccer deals with abuse of referees. I do know that there are far too many loopholes and appeals in GAA when it comes to punishments and sanctions. Instead of sucking it up and taking your medicine, a lot of people's first reaction is to try and get out of the suspension.

There should be zero tolerance to abuse of referees, in any shape or form. Without them, there would simply be no games.

Irish league and league of Ireland crowds dwarf gaa club games. Your argument is silly.

Don't BB.

You're right about LOI.

But pretty much every D1 club team in County Down would match or beat the attendances at Newry City and Warrenpoint Town.

[Baile Brigín 2]

I've never been to an amateur or Sunday league soccer game - does the same go on there or is it worse at GAA games?

Never heard of a referee being stabbed at the soccer, so no.

But why even start the whataboutery

I don't think O'Neill is going for the "whataboutery" angle. Seemed like a genuine question to me.

I too would be interested in the answer. I am imaging there wouldn't be the same vitriol as you don't have the same parish vibes and that the soccer games are a gather up of people from everywhere with less spectators.

Referees went on strike in Dublin and last year. Abuse happens. The difference is it isn't tolerated.

And spare us the 'we are more passionate' justification

What shite are you spouting now? Who is the "we" ?

I am saying that GAA club matches probably have more of a crowd and the crowd has more of a connection to the team given the parish rule compared to an amateur soccer team who can transfer players in from everywhere.

I am also none the wiser as to whether the same abuse and vitriol is directed at referees in the amateur soccer league games.

You are saying that any better behaviour towords referees in soccer is because soccer fans aren't passionate enough to attack referees. Are you sure about that?

I think abuse of referees happens along the same lines in soccer. But the associations deal with it robustly, which simply doesn't happen in the GAA

Absolutely never said such a thing. If you have 200 people at a match, there is more likelihood of a trouble maker being in attendance compared to a crowd of 20.

Also with increased numbers comes increased chances of people clashing with each other, verbally or physically in the crowd.

I don't know how soccer deals with abuse of referees. I do know that there are far too many loopholes and appeals in GAA when it comes to punishments and sanctions. Instead of sucking it up and taking your medicine, a lot of people's first reaction is to try and get out of the suspension.

There should be zero tolerance to abuse of referees, in any shape or form. Without them, there would simply be no games.

Irish league and league of Ireland crowds dwarf gaa club games. Your argument is silly.

Don't BB.

You're right about LOI.

But pretty much every D1 club team in County Down would match or beat the attendances at Newry City and Warrenpoint Town.

And the last time a referee got stuck in the boot of a car, or hopped like the leinster final in the LoI was?

[Wildweasel74]

That was Rathnew in Wicklow years ago.

[Wildweasel74]

Biggest problem is supporters simply don't know the rules ( partially due to us messing around with the rules all the time, the shoulder (now side to side) and square ball rule always bring uproar. Last Monaghan tackle in normal time been a example then that idiot McGeeney coming on( He not got suspended yet for shouldering the Monaghan player?) From neutral games I am at, it's mostly men 50+ bellowing at a ref. When I tell him that call was correct there are unable to take the blinkers off. I stopped reffing at U-16, you spending half the time getting shouted at by persons who don't know the rules.

[imtommygunn]

That was Rathnew in Wicklow years ago.

Happened a bit closer to home too.

I got asked years ago to be a ref but said no. Takes a certain kind of person and you certainly need a thick skin.

[JoG2]

Biggest problem is supporters simply don't know the rules ( partially due to us messing around with the rules all the time, the shoulder (now side to side) and square ball rule always bring uproar. Last Monaghan tackle in normal time been a example then that idiot McGeeney coming on( He not got suspended yet for shouldering the Monaghan player?) From neutral games I am at, it's mostly men 50+ bellowing at a ref. When I tell him that call was correct there are unable to take the blinkers off. I stopped reffing at U-16, you spending half the time getting shouted at by persons who don't know the rules.

Be surprised if McGeeney does get any kind of suspension, never mind a hefty one, sure Armagh are out, move on, nothing to see here seems to be the GAA way

[Whishtup]

There needs to be clear parameters set out by the Gaa on how we communicate with referees. There needs to be a channel for parents, supporters to give feedback.Then a synchronised stand down across all clubs to set the boundaries with all members mandatory attendance. Cancel all matches that weekend.
Make sure all clubs, fans are clear on repercussions, with hefty bans for any incidents.
Then stick to the plan.