O'Connor calls for citing commisioner

Former All-Ireland final referee Pat O'Connor says the GAA should introduce a citing commissioner to retrospectively evaluate on-field incidents.

Limerick native O'Connor, who officiated the 1999, 2001 and 2003 All-Ireland hurling finals, says the GAA should follow rugby's example and appoint an independent assessor to examine breaches of on-field discipline.

O'Connor believes both Waterford's Austin Gleeson and Galway's Adrian Tuohy should both have been suspended for September's Liam McCarthy Cup decider.

Gleeson escaped a ban for pulling off an opponent's faceguard in Sunday's All-Ireland SFC 4-19 to 0-20 semi-final win over Cork, after referee James Owens told the GAA's Central Competitions Control Committee [CCCC] that there was no need for retrospective action.

And Galway corner back Adrian Tuohy also faced no further disciplinary action following an similar incident with Tipperary's Patrick Maher in the other semi-final.

"If a referee, linesman or assistant referee misses a particular foul, like in rugby, there should be a citing commissioner," O'Connor told the Irish Examiner.

"There are assessors up there watching GAA referees. Why isn’t there a citing official up there, too, bringing these instances to the attention of the CCCC? 

"I understand the CCCC went back to James Owens after his report was submitted. Instead of putting the onus back on the referee, if the CCCC had an issue with how a particular incident was dealt with, they should have the power to deal with it themselves.

“In rugby, the citing commissioner doesn't show the referee in a poor light. Things can happen in a game that go unnoticed by a referee. It has happened to myself. It has happened to every referee.

"For it to come about, a motion would have to be brought to Congress. It would absolutely benefit the game."

Image Inpho/ Gary Carr

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