counter customizable free hit RTE GAA pundit grilled over ‘unintended consequences’ of new football rules as he insists it’s ‘not FRC responsibility’ – Curefym

RTE GAA pundit grilled over ‘unintended consequences’ of new football rules as he insists it’s ‘not FRC responsibility’


PETER CANAVAN admitted there have been “unintended consequences” from the new gaelic football rules.

But the Tyrone GAA legend and member of the Football Review Committee (FRC) insisted neither the group nor chair Jim Gavin should be responsible for clarifying them.

Tyrone goalkeeper Niall Morgan retrieves a football during a Gaelic football match.
Goalkeepers have to take kick-outs within 20 seconds
Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Man in green shirt being interviewed.
Peter Canavan admitted there were communication issues but defended the FRC

The new rules have been widely welcomed since they came into force for the 2025 Allianz Football Leagues.

However, there have been some teething issues, with Kieran McGeeney airing his frustration at a misunderstanding surrounding the 3v3 rule after Armagh’s defeat to Galway.

This past weekend, a free was given to Donegal following the incident that saw Aidan Forker sent off for Armagh.

That is despite the rule book stipulating it should have been thrown up.

There were several incidents over the weekend where referees have clamped down on delayed restarts, the consequence for which being a 13-metre free.

Following a meeting between the FRC and referees panel, meanwhile, it was agreed that goalkeepers had to take a kick-out within 20 seconds.

According to RTE, however, this had not been communicated to inter-county managements to which it had reached out.

Peter Canavan – who is a member of the FRC – was quizzed on the communication issue by Joanne Cantwell on Allianz League Sunday.

And he admitted: “I accept there are communication issues and a number of obstacles.

“Things move slowly in the GAA. There are a lot of processes and committees to get through before we get all these rules verified for championship.


“It’s probably one of the unintended consequences of the new rules because a lot of people assumed the fact that a goalkeeper can now kick it out quicker that there would be quicker kickouts.

“That hasn’t transpired. Because so many kick-outs are going long, they are taking their time. At times, 30, 40 seconds.

“As far as I’m aware, the new guideline was issued by the head of the referees Donal Smyth, to the referees, so the referees were aware of that, but I don’t think the inter-county managers or players were aware of that.”

Canavan was pressed on who should be communicating the changes, with the former Tyrone star distancing the FRC or Jim Gavin from responsibility.

He added: “I don’t think it should be Jim Gavin or the FRC. It’s not Donal Smyth’s job as the head of referees.

“If he issues guidance to the referees, I don’t think it is up to Jim Gavin to follow up on those guidelines.

“There is a wider issue here for Games administration to look into.

“I agree, inter-county management and players should have been notified.”

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