Refs must retain right to adjudge kick-out mark infringements, insists Deegan
Football Review Committee member Maurice Deegan says referees have to retain the authority to interpret the 50-metre kick-out mark penalty as they see fit.
Three-time All-Ireland final referee Deegan revealed he has received several messages following this past weekend's All-Ireland SFC Round 2 games where there were several instances of the rule being implemented.
In the Cork-Kerry game in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday, referee Derek O'Mahoney exercised the 50m advancement on several occasions much to the ire of both managers John Cleary and Jack O'Connor.
In the second half, Cork were adjudged to have obstructed Kerry a few times and as per rule the visitors took the option of bringing the resultant free advanced 50m outside the arc for a two-point free.
Deegan is adamant it should be left up to referees to determine what constitutes an obstruction within four metres of a kick-out mark.
'That part of the rule has been there for some time now but it's probably being more enforced now.
'As for it being policed a bit too harshly, I don't think so. I would say the lads are policing it correctly. You're probably seeing more implementing it to the letter of the law.
'Every referee is different in how they judge certain facets of the game. It's like the advantage rule, which now has no time limit in football. The extent of the advantage given is open to the interpretation of the referee.
'There had been a time limit of kick-outs earlier this year but there is none now and that is also up to the referee and what he thinks is the acceptable amount of time for the 'keeper to take the kick. You don't want to take that out of the referee's hands either.
'The rules are being scrutinised like never before and I can understand where they are coming from. Nobody should want to take the power out of the referee's hands. It would be the wrong to do that. You have to trust the referee. It's the same in every walk of life, everyone is different.'
Deegan accepts the point that the act of a player in unsuccessfully challenging to claim a kick-out shouldn't be considered as a tackle within the four metres.
'No, that isn't a challenge in that sense. If two players are coming down to the ground, you would imagine that is fine and the player who wins the mark either takes it or plays on.'
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