Following the Mayo-Armagh football qualifier on 29 June, Kevin McStay highlighted the issue of time keeping in GAA officiating. To highlight his point on The Sunday Game, McStay added up the time for injuries and substitutions during the second half of the said game.
The tot-up came at over 10 minutes, but only four minutes of additional time was announced as the 70th minute beckoned at MacHale Park.
"The technology is there, the referees have the latest technology in their match watches. It's a vibrate technology to start and stop the game," explained the former Roscommon manager.
There were 4 minutes of additional time in the Mayo-Armagh qualifier. In reality there should have been 10 minutes. Kevin McStay explains why #rtegaa pic.twitter.com/pY7pw9F4Ll
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 30, 2019
A month on and McStay has come up with a few more tweaks that he believes will improve the spectacle of Gaelic football. In particular he focuses on implementing sanctions that will change the behaviour from players and management.
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Speaking on RTÉ Radio's Saturday Sport, he said: "The game is being coached to within an inch of its life and so everybody is looking for that millimetre. How far can one push things in terms of the rulebook?
"And in some ways that's only natural. Where can I get an advantage for my team? It's a natural, human condition.
"It should be a case of if you don't keep it within the rules of the game, the referee and the rulebook are supposed to pull you back.
"However, the GAA needs to be proactive in implementing such changes. Soccer, rugby and basketball are among the sports that react to any cynicism in the game in a speedy manner."
So what exactly would The Sunday Game pundit bring in?
REF ASSIST – OR WATERED DOWN VERSION OF VAR
"On Sunday night we are in the studio and we often criticise the ref when a penalty is given even though the foul happened two metres outside the square - or when a square ball should have been awarded.
"The 'ref assist’ can check back – should only take seconds – so as to not have the ref looking silly on a Sunday night."
TAKE TIME KEEPING OUT OF REF’S HANDS
"Referees are not extending time for deliberate or accidental delays. Take time keeping out of his hands. Get a fourth or fifth official to run the clock.
FREES FROM THE WRONG PLACE
"Couple of cans of shaving foam? If you go a millimetre with your large toe over the line for a sideline kick the zeal by which a sideline official will wave his flag and turn it in to a throw-in ball is noticeable. One step inside the 20 metre line to receive a kick out from a Stephen Cluxton.
"It's amazing how zealous they are to apply these infringements and not apply the rule for the free kick."
FOULING AT THE THROW IN
"Straight yellow cards to stop what looks like a row outside a chip shop at 2.30 in the morning, butting and jabbing and so on."
FOULING IN THE LAST FIVE MINUTES
"No black card replacement after the 50th minute."
DUMMY TEAMS
"Teams should be named by 9pm on a Thursday. Any changes between then and matchday is a loss of a substitution - up to a maximum of two losses."
STEPS
"4 steps, perhaps too little. Instances of 13 have happened. Make it 5 or 6 and then apply the rule properly."
CHOKE TACKLE ON THE TURNOVER
"A free kick at the top of the D?"
