The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
“The referees are happy that this was voted in. A lot of cynical fouling has crept into the game,” the Éire Óg man told The Clare Champion this week.
“This rule is being introduced specifically to help get rid of cynical fouling, such as the deliberate pull-down, trip or body check. It also covers the abuse of another player or a match official,” according to Hickey, who regularly officiates at football and hurling games in the county.
This will become law on January 1. The first three players in any team picking up a black card in any game can be replaced but there will be no substitute allowed for any player black-carded after that.
As a result of this rule, the number of substitutes a team is allowed in a game has been increased from five to six.
Hickey is particularly happy that delegates voted in favour of the new advantage rule. “There will be five seconds allowed and, if an advantage hasn’t accrued, the referee can bring the ball back and give the free. I am happy that this change has been sanctioned,” he said.
Another change for 2014 will allow a hand-pass point. Heretofore, only a fisted score was allowed.
Both the advantage rule and the allowing of a score from a hand-pass effort come into effect at the end of April.
The Clare official is disappointed that delegates didn’t sanction the pick-up proposal. “A lot of fouls occur from guys touching the ball on the ground,” he noted.
Hickey is also disappointed that delegates didn’t support the proposal to introduce a mark, whereby a team fielding the ball from a kick-out would be rewarded with a free.
“The referees’ association will be holding courses for their members over the winter months to educate them on all of these changes in preparation for next season,” the Clare official concluded.
