FRC proposals for congress to include new 'Black Card' system
The proposals announced by the Football Review Committee launched on December 10 last are now being processed by the GAA's Rules Advisory Committee in order to format the relevant motions for Annual Congress in Derry next March.
Following discussions, mainly between the FRC and the Rules Advisory Committee, some proposals have been amended in accordance with the views of players, mentors, administrators, spectators and the GAA public at large.
With regard to Proposal 10 - the original proposal will be adjusted, as follows:
The FRC proposes that a new category of fouling be added to the Rules. This is aimed at reducing deliberate and cynical fouling and also to increase respect towards referees and fellow players. The penalty for such behaviour will be mandatory substitution, by showing the offender a Black Card. The following infractions have been identified:
- To deliberatively pull down an opponent2. To deliberately trip an opponent with hand, arm or foot3. To deliberately body collide with an opponent after he has played the ball away orfor the purpose of taking him out of the movement of play4. To use abusive or provocative language or gestures to players5. To remonstrate in an aggressive manner with a match official.
The present Yellow Card system will remain in place with players being sent off without replacement on receiving a second Yellow Card as now pertains.
After a team has been give three Black Cards, any further Black Cards will mean the player going off with no substitution.
For inter-county competitions a cumulative total of three Black Cards or three Double Yellow Cards for an individual in any one grade in the same year will lead to a one match suspension, except where this would apply to an All-Ireland Final, in which case the one match suspension is carried forward to the next match.
The number of substitutions permitted should be increased from the present five to six, to coincide with the introduction of the proposed change.
The above changes, if approved by GAA Congress, are to be implemented from January 1, 2014
