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Kick-out mark 50m penalty scrapped in favour of on-the-spot free

Galway's Shane Walsh competes in the air with Armagh's Peter McGrane, left, and Rian O'Neill, right
Galway's Shane Walsh competes in the air with Armagh's Peter McGrane, left, and Rian O'Neill, right

Central Council has voted overwhelmingly to reduce the penalty for a player impeding a kick-out mark from a 50-metre advancement to a free from where the offence has taken place.

The Football Review Committee's (FRC) proposal to amend the kick-out mark foul - interfering with a player who has four steps after taking the mark - passed by 39 votes to 1 after coming in for repeated criticism since its introduction.

It is understood the change will be implemented immediately, therefore in force for this weekend's All-Ireland preliminary football quarter-finals and Tailteann Cup semi-finals.

A number of inter-county managers have spoken out against the current rule. The issue came under the spotlight in Kerry's recent All-Ireland group game win over Cork, with Kingdom boss Jack O’Connor describing it as "ridiculous".

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