GAVIN CUMMISKEYhears why controversial incidents will continue to be blanked on Croke Park's big screens

THE GAA director general, Páraic Duffy, has confirmed the big screens in Croke Park will continue the association’s policy of not showing controversial incidents in matches.

Duffy was speaking yesterday at a press briefing about enhanced efforts to “create an occasion” around their All-Ireland series games in the stadium.

“Well, we’d like to make more use of the big screens and that’s what we are trying to do,” said Duffy. “In terms of using it to analyse controversial incidents probably not because I think it would be dangerous. But we would like to use the screens to involve the crowd but not in terms of reviewing controversial incidents at half-time. There could be negatives around that.”

The fear is replaying debatable moments would incite the crowd into being overly critical of officials. The big screens were used to show half-time analysis for the first time during last Saturday’s Donegal versus Kildare All-Ireland football quarter-final. Adrian Eames and Martin Carney from RTÉ’s Sunday Game spoke along with two supporters, from either county, who were plucked from the crowd.

However, no action from the opening 35 minutes was used. Those with access to the media centre, premium seats or corporate boxes can see comprehensive half-time analysis on RTÉ or TV3.

Supporters in the stadium have expressed frustration at being unable to see replays of certain moments as the big screens instead flick to sponsor messages.

“I don’t think it is just a GAA thing – I think it is evident across all international sports,” said Duffy. “They don’t tend to show controversial incidents because it puts huge pressure on match officials if, for example, an official has made a mistake and an error has been shown at half-time it makes it very difficult to officiate after half-time so I don’t see that as a road we would go down.”

This, however, is not the case at major sporting events in America or the Southern Hemisphere when the crowd is shown controversial incidents on big screens. Granted, there is less chance of officials making errors as they have the benefit of technology at their disposal to ensure the correct decision is made.

So, Duffy was asked, will the newly-introduced half-time analysis at Croke Park not be dealing with any controversial talking points? “If you show controversial incidents on the big screen at half-time it is very difficult for the officials. It could have an effect on the crowd as well.”

This line of questioning became a preamble for the GAA management committee’s gathering on Friday, August 19th, to hear the research committee’s report on the feasibility of introducing Hawkeye into Gaelic games.

“The position with Hawkeye is a few months ago we asked the research committee, which is chaired by Seán Donnelly, to have a pilot study done and come back to us with recommendations,” Duffy continued.

“Just a couple of points about Hawkeye: I think people shouldn’t underestimate there is a huge challenge in developing Hawkeye from the GAA point of view. We have Hawkeye, say, for cricket where there is three fixed stumps in the ground and two bails, and Hawkeye for tennis when there are very defined lines.

“When (Hawkeye) were here in February, March (for testing) you got uprights which are very high, uprights that shake in the wind, so you got to be absolutely certain that technology is one hundred per cent certain and I’m pretty confident that will be the outcome but there are a lot of technical issues around making Hawkeye work for GAA.”

It seems likely the technology will only be installed in Croke Park on a one- or two-year trial basis.

“We need to get this right. The results of games need to reflect what happened on the field. (Cost) is one issue; it is not the main issue. The first thing is to make sure that Hawkeye suits our games.

“Cost is one of the factors after that. If it is going to cost us, for example, €2 million a year, we couldn’t afford to do that. We have to look at what we can afford to do.”

The repetitive occurrence of disallowed goals due to incorrect square-ball rulings will also be re-examined.

“It has clearly caused problems for referees and officials. There is an alternative (when a player could enter the square once the ball was kicked) which we tried out that I think the referees and umpires found easier.

“There is an obligation to look at it.”

No law change, experimental or permanent, can be introduced until next April’s Congress so the current confusion over the square ball will continue until the 2012 championship.

The GAA were also able to report that their one millionth championship supporter for 2011 will be counted before Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final between Waterford and Kilkenny.