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Eugene McGee: ‘Like we’d all love to tell a referee to f**k off, but you can’t do it’

The FRC chairman is hopeful that the new black card rule will help increase the respect for referees.

FRC CHAIRMAN EUGENE McGee believes that it is time for the GAA to follow the example set by their rugby counterparts and show greater respect for referees.

The introduction of the black card has commanded the headlines for the Football Review Committee’s work and McGee believes the new rule will help increase the respect for referees.

Under the new rules for Gaelic football, remonstrating with a match official is an offence punishable with a black card.

“Part of our remit with the Football Review Committee was to increase the prestige of referees and the respect for referees because it has been deteriorating”, says McGee.

“No matter what anyone says, there’s too many people abusing referees. Players, managers, spectators, everybody. This is the first step (to addressing that).

“The comparison is always made with rugby and this is a first attempt to try and rectify it because it’s not fair to referees, especially club referees.

“Like we’d all love to tell a referee to f**k off, but you can’t do it. It’s not fair for prominent players, maybe, to abuse them and call them all sorts of nasty names. That’s totally out.”

Here’s the 19 GAA players who were shown black cards over the weekend

8 GAA players who were glad to be back as the 2014 season started this weekend

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    Mute mar
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    Mar 23rd 2018, 10:27 PM

    Much more enjoyable to watch the Turkey v. Ireland match. Lesser players but at least both teams got the ball down and played the game as it should be played. I’m a Bohs fan have to admit that Rovers probably would have deserved a draw.

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    Mute Noel Ryan
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    Mar 24th 2018, 12:47 PM

    @mar: Ya good game, thought the pitch was in exceptionally good condition, and Waterford have a couple of very cultured footballers like that French lad Hery and the Ghanaian chap.

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    Mute Tony O Connor
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    Mar 23rd 2018, 10:27 PM

    Absolute joke of a second yellow for Gilchrist…. he fell over and ref gives him his marching orders. Rovers still looked like snatching a draw. Great game….. well played Waterford great for the league to have a newly promoted team up tbe table challenging (early days i know) better than the international game KOH

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    Mute Patrick Mc Cabe
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    Mar 24th 2018, 6:53 AM

    These are the nights we missed for all the years we were in First Division, a great crowd and brilliant result, Rovers looked very composed on the ball and probably deserved a draw but we will take it after heartbreak in Dundalk last week, Come On You Blues.

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    Mute Joe O'riordan
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    Mar 24th 2018, 7:16 AM

    @Patrick Mc Cabe: Waterfod Albion ….3 lions on a shirt …..odious but hey its bread for the masses.

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    Mute Aidan Holden
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    Mar 24th 2018, 10:20 AM

    @Joe O’riordan: muppet

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    Mute Aidan Holden
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    Mar 23rd 2018, 10:11 PM

    Hopefully Greg Bolger still isn’t whinging

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    Mute Aidan
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    Mar 24th 2018, 12:37 AM

    @Aidan Holden: referee must have a head ache after the game

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    Mute running man
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    Mar 24th 2018, 1:55 PM

    @Aidan Holden: Why do you think City offloaded him, apart from the fact he was’nt good enough to get in their first 11

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    Mute Ollie Watson
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    Mar 23rd 2018, 10:53 PM

    Burke should have been playing against Turkey

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    Mute Tricksy
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    Mar 24th 2018, 1:27 AM

    Soccer has me puzzled this last while ! The fai coaches and mr doktor insists players take the ball from the back keep possession ,bring the mid field in to focus , set the forwards up for scoring ? Our international team hoof it long , don’t keep control of the ball , first touches don’t stick , and mid field are missing .

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    Mute Noel Ryan
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    Mar 24th 2018, 12:26 PM

    @Tricksy: Different levels. You could watch a reserves game and there would be some lovely touches and passes. But most international games are extremely competitive, tough and physical, just getting a cap is such an honour for footballers. You just don’t get the same time on the ball.

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    Mute mar
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    Mar 24th 2018, 12:39 PM

    @Tricksy: I agree, also it’s only the senior international that hoofs the ball while from what I have seen the underage selections play proper football.

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    Mute JJ Ryan
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    Mar 24th 2018, 12:13 AM

    Need checks here . according to this article Duffus scored two goals after he had been sent off.

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