McKeever decision may force rule change

GAELIC GAMES:THE GAA are considering amending the powers of the sideline (or fourth) official to clarify the ambiguity surrounding the role, which saw the collapse of the disciplinary case against Armagh's Ciarán McKeever, who was sent off in the league match against Laois a fortnight ago.

It is believed the possible amendments to the rules that will be looked at include granting fourth officials a specific role in reporting infractions not seen by the referee. As the GAA’s annual congress takes place in little over two weeks it will not be possible to propose any such amendment until next year.

But in the final report of its term of office the current Central Competitions Control Committee is likely to refer the matter to the Rules Advisory Committee with a request that change be put in motion.

McKeever had been shown the red card by referee Michael Duffy at the beginning of the second half after the latter had been told by his fourth official the Armagh defender had kicked out at Laois’s Billy Sheehan when the teams had been on their way back to the dressingroom at half-time.

Having opted to take his case to the Central Hearings Committee – rather than accept the two-match suspension proposed by the CCCC, McKeever was successful in avoiding suspension at last week’s hearing, which cleared him to play and take a crucial role in Armagh’s valuable win over neighbours Down on Saturday night in Armagh.

The CHC found that the sideline official, Stephen Johnston, had exceeded his authority by bringing to Duffy’s attention his opinion that McKeever had taken a kick at Sheehan and that therefore the red card couldn’t stand.

Article 4.1 in the playing rules of the Official Guide the duties of sideline officials are carefully defined: (a) To receive substitution notes giving the name and number of a substitute or temporary substitute and the name and number of the player being substituted or replaced; (b) To record and report all substitutions and temporary substitutions made during a game to the referee for inclusion in the match report; (c) To display by means of electronic or manual board the numbers of players being substituted; (d) To display by means of electronic or manual board the additional amount of time, if any, which will be played at the end of each half, as indicated by the referee to the linesman.

Without the specific responsibility of informing referees about foul play that might have been missed, the fourth official hadn’t the power to report such infractions. Accordingly, the CHC remitted the matter to the CCCC for investigation, given the red card detailed in the referee’s report shouldn’t have been shown.

Yesterday it emerged the investigation into the incident launched by the CCCC had decided on Wednesday night that the alleged infraction couldn’t be substantiated, as with McKeever denying that he had committed any foul the testimony came down to the player’s word against the official’s.

Although the controversy has come in the middle of an extremely busy period for the GAA’s disciplinary apparatus, the outcome of the McKeever case came as no surprise.

Previously a similar case had come before the CHC and the stance taken then was that any challenge to the Central Appeals Committee or the GAA arbitration body the Disputes Resolution Authority would in all likelihood succeed so the case against McKeever was in trouble from the start.

With Sheehan not corroborating the charge on Wednesday it was just the fourth official’s word against McKeever’s. Whereas the CCCC felt that the case couldn’t proceed, the situation has been embarrassing for the GAA, who have been forced to reject the word of one of its match officials.

This hasn’t been the only embarrassment caused by the Laois-Armagh match, as Armagh’s statement expressing concern at alleged racist and personal abuse, directed at their players, going unpunished.

The statement caused divisions within the county with some officials counselling against its release. Rumours that county chair Paul Duggan had resigned in the wake of the controversy were strenuously denied last week by county secretary Patrick Nugent.

Eventually last Thursday a joint release from Laois and Armagh defused the matter.

“A meeting of representatives of Armagh and Laois county boards took place today to discuss last Sunday’s Allianz League Football game in O’Moore Park, Portlaoise. It was agreed that allegations made by Armagh county board in their statement do not accurately reflect what occurred in O’Moore Park.

“It is acknowledged by both boards that inappropriate verbal exchanges took place between players during the game and this will be addressed with our respective panels.” The scrapping of the case against McKeever now concludes the episode.