John Hughes – GAA must simplify the tackle

Kevin McLoughlin was fortunate not to be given a black card in last weekend’s game

John Hughes says that until the public understand what constitutes a fair tackle in Gaelic Football, then rules like the black card will continue to be contentious.

In his Gaelic Life column this week, Hughes argues that the black card is no longer useful.

He suggests that rather than dealing with cynical play by using discipline, he says that the GAA should instead simplify the tackle.

“Laying down what does and doesn’t constitute a legitimate tackle would go a massive way to cleaning up our game. The aim should be to legislate for a tackle that any member of the public could adjudicate on. In other words the direct opposite of the eye-of-the-beholder situation which currently holds.

“When we have a clear idea of what a tackle actually is, then the schedule of sanctions should be simple to impose.”

Read the entire article in the current issue of Gaelic Life, or buy the online edition by clicking here.