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Andy McEntee: 'Sideline officials need more power'

Meath manager Andy McEntee says sideline officials need more power to help control proceedings du...



Andy McEntee: 'Sideline of...
Other Sports

Andy McEntee: 'Sideline officials need more power'

Meath manager Andy McEntee says sideline officials need more power to help control proceedings during matches to coincide with the introduction of new rules in gaelic football.

A limit on the number of handpasses as well as the introduction of offensive marks means that referees will now have additional facets of the game which they must keep under their control.  

Speaking on Tuesday's OTB AM, McEntee said there needs to be more assistance from officials on the sidelines, as well as umpires.

"There is more and more responsibility being piled onto referees," he said. "I commented on it after the game on Saturday night.

"There's steps, whether a ball was kicked from outside the 45' - was he inside the 45' when the ball is caught? Has it traveled 20 yards?

"I think it would be a good idea to give linesmen and umpires a little bit more power.

"Something happened in the game on Saturday and I asked the linesman if he was entitled to make any comment on that - he said: No, I'm not.'

"The ref was just naturally unsighted [sic]. He said: 'What I consider a free, the referee might not consider a free.'

"I think it would be a brave enough move and a smart enough move.

They're all mic'd up as it is. I think it would make sense to give linesmen a bit more authority."

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