THERE was a rise in the number of red cards issued by GAA referees in Donegal during 2019.
There were a total of 145 straight red cards dished out by refs during the last year.
That is up by 10 from 135 in 2018.
There were also 46 red cards issued for double yellow or yellow/black card combinations.
It is the second year in a row that there was an increase.
“This is something that clubs need to take a look at and try to improve player discipline,” outgoing CCC secretary Declan Martin said at Wednesday’s county convention in Ballybofey.
“A larger number of these sending offs are for abuse of match officials by both players and management.”
Referees administrator Michelle Bennett also touched on the subject in her report to convention.
She said: “If it so happens that the referee is in receipt of abuse from players, team officials or others due to some perceived hurtful decision against their club during the game, the referee will report it in the proper manner.
“The GAA community and its leaders should never be seen to be disinterested in the welfare of the referee or to be upbraiding the referee for reporting aggressive unfair play.”
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