Annie Hall
04-12-2006, 09:45 PM
From Hoganstand:
New Clare football manager Paidi O Se has urged the GAA to explore the idea of paying referees.
The Kerry legend believes such a move would greatly improve refereeing standards and lead to less of the on-field violence which has been widespread in recent weeks.
"There is a problem, first and foremost, with how our games are refereed. We have a problem with match officials. We only have a handful at the top level who could be classed as excellent. Beyond that, the standard is pretty mediocre,” he said.
"This is an area where I would explore professionalism. I’d pay a referee quicker than I’d pay a player. If we ask amateur footballers to dedicate their year to a goal, ask a manager to give up his life in pursuit of that goal, ask the county board to pony up with the cash to fund the whole project and see it all go balls up because of a bad decision - this is a crazy situation. I’d like to see the idea of establishing a professional refereeing structure explored in a bid to improve standards."
By contrast, O Se wouldn’t like to see players being paid but feels the GPA has a greater role to play in the Association.
"I’d love to see the GPA become part of the Croke Park set-up. As a manager, I know that every county could do with a player welfare officer and I’d like to see the GPA oversee that development. We have no shortage of useless officials. Why not appoint the ones we need? Why do we need assistant treasurers?
"I support the idea of sports grants for players and proper expenses - including out-of-pocket stuff. I don’t think players should go pro, but nor do I believe that looking after players in this way is professionalism. In my opinion, professionalism is where you are paid a weekly wage. Anything else should be on the table."
New Clare football manager Paidi O Se has urged the GAA to explore the idea of paying referees.
The Kerry legend believes such a move would greatly improve refereeing standards and lead to less of the on-field violence which has been widespread in recent weeks.
"There is a problem, first and foremost, with how our games are refereed. We have a problem with match officials. We only have a handful at the top level who could be classed as excellent. Beyond that, the standard is pretty mediocre,” he said.
"This is an area where I would explore professionalism. I’d pay a referee quicker than I’d pay a player. If we ask amateur footballers to dedicate their year to a goal, ask a manager to give up his life in pursuit of that goal, ask the county board to pony up with the cash to fund the whole project and see it all go balls up because of a bad decision - this is a crazy situation. I’d like to see the idea of establishing a professional refereeing structure explored in a bid to improve standards."
By contrast, O Se wouldn’t like to see players being paid but feels the GPA has a greater role to play in the Association.
"I’d love to see the GPA become part of the Croke Park set-up. As a manager, I know that every county could do with a player welfare officer and I’d like to see the GPA oversee that development. We have no shortage of useless officials. Why not appoint the ones we need? Why do we need assistant treasurers?
"I support the idea of sports grants for players and proper expenses - including out-of-pocket stuff. I don’t think players should go pro, but nor do I believe that looking after players in this way is professionalism. In my opinion, professionalism is where you are paid a weekly wage. Anything else should be on the table."