The Black Card — Some Additions

The problem with the black-card — Part 2 of 3

There are currently 5 offences that fall into the Black Card category. The success of the Black Card is still up for debate. It has had a positive effect for the most part. Below I will outline why I think a 6th, 7th and 8th offence should be added.

Blatant Time Wasting

Can be sub-divided into 3 different blatant acts:

1. Not releasing the ball from your grasp (or lying on the ball) after the ref has blown the whistle to indicate a free against the offending team.
2. Kicking or throwing the ball away from the free-kick area after the ref has blown the whistle to indicate a free against the offending team.
3. Standing in front of the player taking the free in an effort to prevent a free being taken.

All 3 of these offences can be broadly categorized as Blatant Time Wasting. The above wording can be used for each of the three.

Why do we need this?

All 3 of these offences already result in a minor penalty in Gaelic Football (Rule 4.18)— the advancement of the ball 13 metres. In reality it’s only a penalty for the offending team if the ball is brought into the scoring zone from a non-scoreable position. They can commit these offences with impunity outside their 65m line.

The current problem with these offences:

1. Slows down the game (a negative for supporters)
2. Referees won’t always give the team in possession a 13m advancement
3. Frustrates opponents and kills their momentum
4. Gives the defending team more time to organize themselves defensively
5. Players retrieving the ball from a player who refuses to release the ball can often do so in a manner that the referee deems inappropriate (overly aggressive) and the ref can change his decision from a free to a “hop-ball”.

Items 2, 3, 4 & 5 are all positive outcomes for the team that are wasting time. In essence this negative, unsporting play is currently being rewarded. The only positive outcome for the team in possession? The advancement of the ball 13 metres, most of the time.

These 3 offences, which are currently penalised with 13m advancements (Rule 4.18) should instead be brought into the Black Card Offence List. The likelihood of a player committing such an offence, in the knowledge that they will be removed from the field of play, would be greatly reduced. This unsporting behaviour seems to be growing more and more prevalent in recent times and is a real blight on our game. In no other top sport is this type of behaviour tolerated and dealt with in such a lenient fashion.

What do you guys think? Have you seen an increase in incidents of this unsporting behaviour? Do you think the black card is the correct level of punishment or would a yellow card be more suitable?