Is there any empathy and respect for referees from the GAA and supporters?

Fergal Horgan is a household name in Ireland, one that holds the respect of many who have enjoyed the games he has refereed since he picked up the whistle. A referee stepping away as sharply from the game, like Fergal has, must be a wake up call for administrators within the GAA who are struggling for a number of years to get people to referee games. In fact within Tipperary and in other counties across Ireland, games were postponed last year as referees can’t be found.

Of course the perception and treatment of referees is a wider issue in society too with junior soccer leagues in Tipperary and nationally also struggling to get officials. Abuse from spectators and the players is one of the issues identified in that instance. Other team sports have tried to change the culture, for example in rugby, the captain of a team is the player that can speak to the referee.

The rugby referee wears a microphone which viewers on television can hear or spectators can buy at matches. This may be a solution to help GAA referees communicate with players and those watching games. The big issue surrounding referees though appears to be a lack of empathy with referees from within and outside the organisation.

From a referees perspective, he or she needs to know that someone has their back, that the association as a whole supports the referee and is in their corner. This isn’t the case according to referees in the GAA and the top referees are leaving in ever increasing numbers. It is obviously a difficult job as split second calls in big games will be remembered for years to come by players and supporters, but the job is made harder by the fact that established high profile referees, like Fergal Horgan was, feel they have no support from Croke Park relating to their role.

The culture is slow to change and the referee numbers will be slow to rise as a result of it. Empathy is key now for referees. Empathy from the administrators, the players and the supporters. Empathy and respect.