Oisín McConville Hammers 'Nonsense' Suggested Change To GAA Black Card Rule

While the new rules introduced to Gaelic football by the GAA in 2025 would prove to be a big success, it is likely that further changes will be made to the game ahead of next season.

The Football Rules Committee (FRC) have been considering a number of potential alterations to the laws, some of which are set to go to a vote at a Special Congress at Croke Park this weekend.

One particular suggested change is now resulting in a bit of criticism in GAA circles.

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One change that could be voted in this weekend relates to application of the GAA's black card rule.

The FRC are suggesting that the jersey pull be added to the list of black card offences, meaning such an infringement would result in a ten-minute sin bin and awarding of a penalty at inter-county level if it is adjudged to deny a goalscoring opportunity.

What's more, it has also been proposed that the black card laws being used at inter-county level also be brought into the club game. As things currently stand, there is no automatic awarding of a penalty in scenarios such as above at club level.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Oisin McConville labelled the suggestion to add the jersey pull to the black card offences as 'nonsense', believing that defenders are being too harshly judged in Gaelic football as things stand.

That’s nonsense.

One of the things I keep seeing is defenders getting punished. I keep seeing defenders getting punished where the first pull comes from the forward and the second one comes from the defender. That's the one the referees see.

I think it's pretty harsh punishment, to be honest. Unless we go to the two referees thing, which isn't going to happen, we're missing a lot at the top end of the pitch. At both ends of the pitch.

I think that's one that may need to be looked at again because I think the punishment really probably doesn't fit the crime in this case. I think that would be quite harsh.

While cutting out cynical play should be encouraged by the GAA, they will have to be careful not to completely tip the balance in the favour of forward players with even further rule changes. The art of one-on-one defending has become an increasingly rare sight in the game in recent times.

It will be interesting to see if the delegates at this weekend's Special Congress agree with McConville's take.