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Hurling

Is it time for a 2nd referee in Hurling and Gaelic Football?

Wicklow manager John Evans has called for a 2nd referee in Gaelic Football and Hurling matches. T...



Is it time for a 2nd referee i...
Hurling

Is it time for a 2nd referee in Hurling and Gaelic Football?

Wicklow manager John Evans has called for a 2nd referee in Gaelic Football and Hurling matches.

The Wicklow manager joined Tuesday's OTB AM to look back at a disappointing season for the Garden County and asked what changes he'd like to see in the Championship going forward, he said: "I'm definitely going to say a second referee. There's so much stuff missing - the referee's are missing so much stuff. 

"I certainly believe that their umpires or linesmen are not helping them because they're missing glaring, blatantly obvious stuff and they're not be communicated to by linesmen into the referee.

"That would be the first thing because it rankles my mind so, so much. There's so many dubious calls made - calls missed I think - when I say calls missed, fouls missed I mean, off the ball type stuff.

"In the play the referee is just not seeing obvious fouls and he can be in amongst 30 guys and he can be unsighted, he can be positioned wrong - he just may see it from a different angle."

The National Rugby League in Australia uses a "two-referee system" although there is a "senior" referee between the pair, who controls most of the game. The referees are paired together for most of the season to allow them build-up an on-field relationship.

Obviously GAA and rugby league are completely different in how they are played in that the officials only have to keep up with a line break in the latter but the precedent is there and should be at least trialled by the GAA at some stage. 

Catch Tuesday's Full OTB AM Podcast here:

Is it time for a 2nd referee in Hurling and Gaelic Football?

00:00:00 / 00:00:00

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