GAA Central Council will vote on tough new disciplinary measures this weekend following a spate of violent flashpoints in club games over recent months.
One proposal will see the maximum ban for the most serious offences go from 96 weeks (two years) to 240 weeks (five years).
This includes assaulting, striking or attempting to strike a referee or match official.
Currently the minimum ban for such an offence is 48 weeks.
However, GAA chiefs do have the power to impose 96 week bans or expel individuals from the Association in serious cases deemed to have discredited the Association.
The GAA have also moved to tighten up hearings.
Central Hearings Committee (CHC) chiefs have been given the power to double proposed suspensions if they consider a hearing request “frivolous or vexatious” and “solely based on procedural or technical arguments.”
The move is designed to encourage the acceptance of proposed bans.
Elsewhere, bans for underage mentors who get involved with opposition coaches or players will be doubled from 8 weeks to 16 weeks, with similar minor offences involving a referee going from 12 weeks to 24 weeks.
A GAA document to counties read: “The Association made referee recruitment and retention one of the key pillars of the Strategic Plan for the next five years.
“Our rules must protect our Match Officials and provide a meaningful penalty for any breach of rule against them.
“Match officials ensure our games take place, and without them, there would be no games.
“If the recommendations are passed at Congress in February, an education plan will be developed for disciplinary committees and units within the GAA.”
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