Oisín O'Neill: Kieran McGeeney's issue not with rules but constant tweaks
This week saw the contentious 50m penalty for impeding a kickout mark buried before the commencement of the All-Ireland SFC knockout phase.
This, despite earlier assurances in the wake of the league that the rules were set in stone for the rest of 2025, at least.
Central Council voted - by 39 votes to one - to remove the 50m mark and replace with an on-the-spot free.
On Saturday, it was confirmed that the FRC had proposed the abolition of the 50m penalty with immediate effect. Following his side's narrow defeat to Galway in Kingspan Breffni that evening, McGeeney lashed out at the decision to enact changes at a relatively late stage in the championship.
"Some teams tell them to do something, I'd love that direct line," McGeeney said after the game. "Whoever has that direct line into Jim (Gavin) and Eamonn (Fitzmaurice), I would love that."
Following the Cork-Kerry game in Round 2 of the group stage, both managers had criticised the 50m mark, with Jack O'Connor labelling it "ridiculous" and saying it was "going to have to be tidied up."
While McGeeney has a reputation for being hostile to the FRC changes, O'Neill insists it's just the constant tweaking which was proving a headache for managers and players.
"I think Kieran's biggest issue with them is they constantly change. We played half the league and they changed them," O'Neill said, at the launch of the All-Ireland SFC knockout stage.
"They're talking about another change this week. There's four rounds of the championship left!
"I think Kieran has no issue with the rules. It's more just that they're continuously changing.
"As players, that's frustrating because you're working on one thing one week and then it might change."
After five rounds of the league, the FRC introduced a major tweak, with teams now obliged to keep four players in their own half at all times to prevent the roaming goalkeeper functioning as an extra man in attack.
"We probably had to tweak a few things that we've been working on and change certain things that we were trying to work on," O'Neill said. "Such as the mark, you know, you had to hold your hands up after going up and now you're being told you've five steps or whatever."
As to whether he agreed with the kickout mark, O'Neill said it was fine as long as referees allowed players to compete for the ball.
"I think if it's refereed in the spirit that the rules intended, you have to allow a little bit of leeway like for players to compete for the ball, but I think it's a reflection of how well coached you are.
"And we were punished severely by it at the weekend, and it's something that we wouldn't be happy with."
Follow a live blog on the All-Ireland Football Championship on Saturday and Sunday on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to updates on Saturday Sport and Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch highlights on The Saturday Game at 9.15pm and The Sunday Game from 9.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
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