Kilkenny GAA referees have voted to go on strike after one official received a threatening and abusive letter following a recent match.
Referees will down whistles from today, through to Bank Holiday Monday, meaning a raft of fixtures in the county have been postponed.
The decision was taken following a meeting between referees and County Board officials on Thursday night.
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Local radio station KCLR has seen the letter sent to the match official, which labels the referee in question "a solid disgrace."
It states: "You won’t get away with this…we know where you live…all about your family…may you die roaring with cancer."
A Kilkenny GAA statement has backed the decision of the referees and the Shamrocks Ballyhale club have gone public to voice their support for match officials.
"Kilkenny County Board has been informed that its referees are withdrawing their services this weekend (Friday to Monday inclusive) to highlight incidents of abuse directed at match officials in recent times," read the statement.
"Kilkenny GAA does not condone any abusive behaviour and fully supports the GAA ethos of respecting our match officials.
"Our match officials are integral to the provision of games and all members of the GAA family, players, mentors and supporters must acknowledge and respect this going forward.
"Kilkenny GAA will not be issuing any further comment at this time."
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