Top referee David Gough believes the alleged assault on a referee at an underage game in Roscommon has to be a watershed moment where the GAA stand with match officials.
Gough expressed his concern for the referee involved, who was taken away by ambulance from Ballyforan on Wednesday evening.
The Meath All-Ireland final referee is annoyed that the match official is the focus of press and social media attention and not the perpetrator, as Roscommon GAA launched an investigation into the incident.
Read next: Referee released from hospital as Roscommon club says it will 'co-operate fully'
Slane man Gough has called on the GAA to offer all necessary supports to the stricken referee as he finds himself in the media limelight.
Gough went on to insist that the latest flashpoint incident involving a referee can’t be forgotten about and that the culture in the Association towards referees has to change.
A video on social media shows an individual running onto the field towards the referee, who is then shown to be laid prone on the field, as the individual moves away.
“I would imagine the Uachtarán (Larry McCarthy) or Ard Stiúrthóir (Tom Ryan) would make a statement condemning this incident, offering full support to the referee going forward and saying they will await the outcome of the CCCC report in Roscommon.
“I would imagine like most things in the GAA, a new news story comes out later in the week - someone from an inter-county team gets injured or there’s a new manager appointment - and this becomes last week’s news.
“It is forgotten about and there is nothing done about it. That’s my biggest fear.”
Gough believes the GAA referee body across the country are "shocked and dismayed" by the incident.
“It was frightening to wake up and read that report because for any referee going out to enjoy refereeing an underage game midweek, you would never think that you are going to be in any sort of physical danger,” he said.
“It just wouldn’t come into the thought process of a referee at all.
“It’s shocking to think that a man went out to officiate an underage game and left the pitch in an ambulance.
“I am fortunate enough never to have been worried about my physical safety or well being on a football pitch in 14 years refereeing - be that at inter-county or club level.
“It has never come on my radar. I have never heard a first hand account from any referee of assault.”
Gough continued: “I don’t know the ins and outs of it. To think that he left his family and walked out onto a pitch and was stretchered off in an ambulance.
“It was a physical assault. That’s a serious incident.”
Gough has called for action to be taken on a recently published Oireachtas report tackling the abuse of referees in all sports.
He continued: “I think it possibly could be a watershed moment for the GAA where they stand with referees and move forward and take action from the recommendations.
“Just to move things forward and create a more safe space.
“The media has shone the spotlight on the referee unfairly.
“The focus has been on the referee throughout the whole lot of this process. Nothing has been focused on the man who actually committed the assault. The focus is on the victim.
“That’s very unfortunate that that’s the way the story is told.
“The referee is the victim.
“That needs to be the story. That needs to be where the GAA are looking.
“That needs to be where the education process comes in with the coaching structures and the underage structures to prevent this happening again.
“We need to be looking at the actions of the people on the sidelines.
“I just feel it’s very unfortunate that someone who might never have been exposed to national media before is now facing this on social media, print media and online media.
“I would be fully sure the GAA will offer every support possible, be that psychological or financial reimbursement for any hospital fees - that they will come out and back that up, whatever needs to be offered.
“I would imagine the feeling among the referees, although I can’t speak for them, is shock, dismay and maybe a little bit of disappointment that things have come to this.
“This man is a colleague, even though I never met him.
“We know, as referees we choose to show our love of Gaelic Games in the most difficult way possible by volunteering to referee, and we know the type of environment we go out into on a regular basis.”
The general treatment of referees has always been an issue in the GAA and other sports, but an assault on an official at an underage game appears to be a new low for the Association.
“Speaking from an inter-county level, it is very rare that we would fear the level of abuse that is thrown at club referees,” continued Gough.
“We are protected inside a stadium. You have background noise and an earpiece.
“When you go to club games you can hear exactly what is being said to you with a lesser number of supporters on the sidelines.
“I don’t know whether the volume of that has increased or decreased or is the same. I have no data to say anything. It’s what you would normally hear any weekend you go out.
“It has to be accepted first of all that a massive cultural change needs to happen, and then the GAA need to go about changing it.
“The only way to change this type of behaviour is through education and it’s from the very youngest age up.
“It starts at under-8s, academies, all the way up through the juvenile sections, into the minor section and then you hope it rolls on into senior.
“It does need to change. Young people by their nature are not abusers.
“That is a habit they pick up from other people and because it’s a learned behaviour, it can also be unlearned and that’s where the GAA need to look at.”
READ NEXT
- Jurgen Klopp gives thoughts on Deadline Day signing for Liverpool after fresh injury blow
Mayo ace Aidan O'Shea enjoys Liverpool last gasp victory over Newcastle
Ange Postecoglou makes transfer admission as deadline day looms
Ryan Giggs jury discharged following failure to reach verdicts on three charges he faced
Steven Gerrard admits sack worry after receiving vote of confidence from players
Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts
