Time for a hurl new approach in respect of refs

THIS SATURDAY night, live on GAA+, tune in to watch the latest version of 'badgering hurling referees.' Billed as unmissable and compelling viewing, this wartsand-all TV show promises questioning of every decision an individual in a shiny red, blue or black jersey makes.

- By KARL O'KANE

This is reality TV at its finest with no escape for the unfortunate victim who will only have a whistle and four men in white coats for protection from what can be an unmerciful haranguing at times.

The many enquiries directed towards this man will come from any one of 30 to 40 supremely fit and seemingly riled up Waterford and Limerick individuals with helmets. They'll never agree with a decision this older male makes and struggle to see reason.

The man in red, blue or black will be talked at from a variety of angles by these other men.

Sometimes their eyes will be bulging. Often they'll have dismissive or disbelieving looks on their faces and occasionally they'll run aggressively towards him.

The chatter will go on and on until eventually the ball, known as a sliotar, is brought forward 13 metres.

This cycle will repeat itself over and over again until the 'badgering hurling referees' grand elimination final in July.

Or maybe the GAA might step in to stop the nonsense.

In hurling the 13-metre penalty for talking back at the ref is some form of punishment as it often makes a nonscorable free scorable, or a scorable one easier, but it's nowhere near enough.

The punishment where referees, often dramatically, grab a ball and move a free seven or eight yards across the 20-metre line to in front of the goals is laughable as a deterrent.

The lack of respect for match officials was the same in football and worse, because of serial fouling and the ball not moving as quickly, which led to more flashpoints, until Jim Gavin and his Football Review Committee (FRC) rode into town.