GAA defends experimental rules
The GAA has rubbished talk that the new experimental rules will result in more hurlers being yellow-carded than footballers in the 2005 National Leagues.
They were responding to newspaper reports that hurlers have a greater chance of being sin-binned for dissent than their footballing colleagues.
The GAA released a statement yesterday in light of what it said was the "inaccurate interpretation of the new rule experiments in hurling and football".
It read: "On initial inspection it might appear different experimental rules will apply to hurlers and footballers in the forthcoming National Hurling and Football League services where 'ungracious behaviour and remonstrating with the referee etc is concerned'.
"However, the reality is somewhat different in that there is provision within Rule 5 and Rule 6 to sanction any player — be it a hurler or footballer — for such behaviour by way of the referee issuing a yellow card.
"What in effect has happened is that the Hurling Task Force have reworded an element of Rule 6, ie to challenge the authority of a match official, and incorporated it into Rule 5.
"There is already provision with Rule 5 to deal with ungracious behaviour, ie to threaten or use abusive or proactive language or gestures to an opponent or team-mate.
"The upshot of this is players who engage in this type of behaviour — be they hurlers or footballers — can expect to be dealt with in the same manner."
