By John Harrington

David Coldrick says GAA clubs need to take more responsibility when their club members verbally or physically abuse referees.

Meath native Coldrick, who has refereed four All-Ireland Finals, believes it’s not enough to simply make the individual accountable for their actions.

“I think it's trying to broaden out the responsibility on clubs and the accountability on clubs,” says Coldrick.

“Yes, the individual needs to take responsibility, but you can have instances and I know of instances where an individual mentor at a juvenile level is suspended and the club is fined. But actually, the fine is paid by the individual.

“So therefore the club doesn't really have to take responsibility, they are making the person accountable because they're paying the fine, but he goes out and he does it again, which, in one particular instance, I know did happen.

“Again, you know he got a longer ban, he got a 48-week ban. He still paid the fine himself and the following week that juvenile team are in a county final and he turned up, and he started again.

“So I think kind of broadening out from just the individual is something that needs to be looked at on the sanctions piece.”

One way that Coldrick believes clubs would take more responsibility for the actions of abuse club-members would be if repeated incidents of such abuse from the sideline resulted in their team being penalised on the field of play.

“Again, at juvenile level, in order to kind of bring that responsibility back on the team and the club, if a referee is being verbally abused from the sideline by a mentor or a team official, ok first time is a warning, which is, let's say, your yellow card, but the second is not just getting rid of him, but also saying look, well, I gave you a warning, so now it's actually a penalty to the opposition team that I'm going to reward on the back of your abuse.

“It means then that maybe the team and the collective club will actually sit up and maybe take a bit more notice, in terms of that abuse that's been directed at referees.”

The GAA will hold a national Respect the Referee Day across this weekend which is designed to riase an awareness among GAA members about the level of respect for match officials that is respected.

The GAA also have a number of initiatives aimed at enhancing the levels of support for match officials.

These include:

• Review of the Rules concerning infractions against Match Officials • Review of how serious infractions against Match Officials within the Association are processed.

• Updated training course on discipline procedures for Discipline Committees at all levels.

• Additional training to Match Officials around reporting disciplinary action.

• Review of the Give Respect, Get Respect campaign with a roll out in 2023. The role of the referee will be a feature of the next stage of the GAA marketing campaign highlighting Where We All Belong and there will be enhanced supports for referees made available through the GAA’s eLearning platform.

Coldrick hopes that all of these initiatives combined can help ensure that a greater culture of respect for match officials can be fostered.

“Well, look, you have to be positive,” he says. “And you have to hope. I do think it has the backing of the Association right to the highest level in terms of Larry (McCarthy), as President.

“So I would be hopeful. I think it is important that all stakeholders, including referees obviously, are involved in these discussions and review which is the intention. So I would be hopeful, but at the same time, look, there's no silver bullet. But we do need to take small steps. And hopefully the small steps will start making a difference.”

What advice does Coldrick have for aspiring young referees who hope to follow in his footsteps and officiate at the very highest level of the game?

“I started when I was like 16/17 and there were tough times but I really wanted to make it to the top,” he says.

“And the important thing is, is getting a good support team behind you. So like, that's your umpires for a start, but also within your county buddying up with a senior, someone that you can actually talk to when those tough days do come, and how to get over them, but also to report abuse.

“If there is abuse then leave it to the powers that be once you've done that job. It is an enjoyable pastime. Yes, of course, you'd like to be the player on what used to be the third Sunday in September, but for me the next best thing is actually as a referee on that third Sunday.”