Tomás Ó Sé believes the GAA have "missed a trick" by scrapping plans to trial the handpass rule in the Allianz Football Leagues, and claimed they've bowed to pressure from players and managers who are looking at the game in the short term.
The controversial rule, which was endorsed by Central Council last November and trialled during the pre-season competitions, will not continue into the League after the decision not to proceed with it was taken at a meeting of the Ard Chomhairle on Saturday.
The rule limited the number of consecutive handpasses to three and had proved contentious with players, supporters and managers. A survey of GPA members revealed 90% opposition to the measure among players.
However Ó Sé said that it deserved to at least be looked at in the league, and that it could well have benefited the game in the long run.
"I think it's a mistake not to try it," the Kerryman told RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday Sport.
"The influence that managers and players, and certain aspects of the media, I think - in seeing how close the vote was - it had to have an impact.
"I'm not saying the three handpass rule would fix everything, but I think there's an argument there that it should have been given a go in the National League.
"The managers, the players... their goals are short term. They're thinking short term; they're looking at how to win. But [the GAA’S Standing Committee on the Playing Rules] was challenged to look at the future of football.
"The normal person going to games right now does not like to see a lot of the way football is played. It's not as enticing to the general fan. That's what you have to listen to."
Ó Sé disagreed with the view that the rule would hamper attacking play, arguing that it would actually counter some of the overly defensive set-up adopted presently.
"The way football is played at the moment, you can argue it would suit defensive teams," he added.
"They could get 15 players behind the ball and that the three handpasses would go and then there'd be a turnover.
"But if you think it through, what will a team that have their defence loaded up do after that? They;d have no one to kick it to, so they'd have to run out and handpass it as well. Eventually the penny would drop that they'd have to have a few bodies up the field so they could have the other option of, instead of running it, but kicking it as well.
"I think they're after missing a trick here. And I think they've just bowed to the pressure to be honest.
"Games change and games evolve. Everyone is down on coaches at the moment. 'Aw it's the coaching'. It's not. The coaches will set their teams up the best way to get a victory. I don't blame the coaches at all. They're playing within the rules.
"I'm not saying the three handpass rule would have worked but I think it merited a look. In the last few weeks the only voices we heard were the voices of management, the voices of players. I understand their frustration, they're heading into a Championship that these rules would not be applied in.
"Dublin for example in the All-Ireland final, they handpassed four out of every five balls they had. This is best team in the country at the moment. In 2011, nine out of every ten moves, they kicked the ball after three handpasses. I'm not saying it's a better game. But it's a better spectacle."
