David Gough insists he "only implemented the rules" when he showed five red cards in the League clash between Armagh and Tyrone last February.
The Meath referee dismissed the Orchard County’s Greg McCabe and four men from the Red Hands – Peter Harte, Padraig Hampsey, Kevin McKernan and Kieran McGeary - after an injury time melee at the Athletic Grounds.
"Quite simply, it was wrapped up very easily for me," said Gough.
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"I did my job, I stood back, I observed, I took notes, I consulted, I implemented the rules and I wrote my report, and that’s all I could do.
"After that, once my report is gone my hands have been washed of it.
"Yes, you get the odd clarification coming back from the player suspended and you do have to clarify certain things before they go to their hearing.
"But it’s out of your hands at that stage and I would always say that I’m tasked with implementing the playing rules in accordance with what happens on the pitch and that’s it.
"That’s as simple as it gets for me. Sometimes you have to look at it and question players’ behaviour.
"The spotlight was shone on me in relation to five red cards but I only implemented the rules. You have to look back at the players - they need to accept responsibility for their behaviour."
Gough was asked if the disciplinary process had to be looked at in the wake of the most recent case of two Clare hurlers and a Galway hurling having proposed suspensions lifted.
"Is there scope for change? I think from what I see in relation to the media there potentially is scope for change," said Gough.
"Am I well versed in that particular part of the rulebook? No. I’m only well-versed in the playing rules of Gaelic Games.
"I actually don’t know the procedures that have to take place between county boards and CCCCs or CHCs and I don’t actually know what has to happen and how it falls down.
"But if it is falling down on technicalities then there is scope for change.
"And the GAA - even though they are slow to change - will eventually make those changes."
Meanwhile trial by TV doesn't affect Gough - because he consciously avoids The Sunday Game.
Joe Canning was among those upset that three hurlers were singled out by Sunday Game panellists - two from Clare, one from Galway - for indiscretions missed by the officials.
All three subsequently faced disciplinary hearings and were banned, although their suspensions were later overturned.
Gough has a simple answer - he just doesn't tune in.
"I personally don’t watch the Sunday Game so it wouldn’t come on my radar," he said.
"I assume if a referee sits down (and watches) - and I’m not sure if it’s their performance that’s highlighted or if it’s incidents in the game highlighted - I’m sure there’s some frustration.
"But if you don’t watch it then it’s no frustration.
"Personally, I watch the game back the day after with the volume off and do my own assessment.
"What pundits and players and panellists on RTE think, personally it’s very irrelevant because they’re not coming from the same knowledge of the rules as I am.
"So their opinion doesn’t really count, in my book.
"I don’t know if I’m well versed enough to know what goes on in the subconscious but you have to think somehow, it would creep in at the back of your mind.
"I’m very, very black and white when it comes to rules, I’m very conscious of not being biased and creating equal playing conditions on the field for players and treating them all with the same courtesy or respect.
"I’d hope it wouldn’t eat in. Could it possibly? Yes, of course it could."
John Keenan was praised for letting the Munster hurling final involving Clare and Limerick flow to a large extent.
While pointing out that hurling and Gaelic football are two different sports, Gough remarked: "We’re all tasked with controlling the game in accordance with the playing rules and I’m sure that’s what he set out to do on the day and that’s what I’ll set out to do on Sunday.
"And I don’t see it as the task of the referee to let the game flow. The game flows because the players play inside the rules.
"If there’s a free, the free has been caused by a foul, the foul has been caused by the player, so you have to point it back to the player all the time and stop looking at the referee.
"If the game isn’t flowing it’s because there’s too many frees, that’s because there’s too many fouls by the players, so it’s not actually the referee’s job to let the game flow."
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