Refs Could Pay Penalty

GAA chiefs admit concerns over new sin bin rule

- Pat Nolan

Referees chief Donal Smyth accepts whistlers are up against it as they move to implement new rules in the coming weeks with no match practice.

Following February’s GAA Congress, a number of rules will come into effect for the first time as the Allianz Leagues get underway over the next two weekends, though referees won’t have had the opportunity for a dry run given the absence of pre-season competitions and challenge games.

Smyth (right), the GAA’s national match officials manager, outlined how some referees have been taking charge of in-house matches in their own counties but admitted they “wouldn’t be up to the maximum match speed”.