GAA players are renowned for their commitment to the game, and are generally perceived to be among the fittest sportspeople there are.
It sounds like the same can't be said for their referees. Some high profile intercounty officials aren't meeting the required monthly standards for fitness according to the GAA's chairman of referee development, Sean Walsh.
Every month, intercounty officials are required to achieve a certain level in a bleep test to remain in consideration for intercounty games.
Referees are fitness-tested in January before the National Leagues start, the first week in May and the end of June.
In the meantime we’ve been having fitness tests every month in regional venues around the country.
We have different levels for the league and for the championship, when they get fitter later in the year. We have those fitness criteria and if they don’t fulfil those, then they don’t referee games.
If they don’t pass the test, though, they don’t referee the matches. There’s no question of an unfit referee being on the panel for matches.
There's no mention of which referees aren't up to the required standard, but the GAA should be finalising the panel of referees for the championship some time this month.
[Irish Examiner]
