In the wake of Martin Breheny's column in yesterday's Irish Independent stating that there was one rule for players who criticise GAA refs on TV and one rule for players who criticise GAA refs on Twitter after Anthony Masterson was forced to 'apologise' for his rant after Wexford-Limerick, Paraic Duffy has issued a wide ranging threat to intercounty players to hold their tongue in the social media realm. Duffy is clearly pissed that his celebrated social media guidelines are being brazenly ignored by players who are honestly gutted after seeing desperate refereeing decide the fate of their season. No other sports league around the world has had much success at reining in the opinions of players on Twitter. Of course, no other sports league has the refereeing crisis that plagues gaelic football, and barring #disillusionedgate, Twitter 'abuse' from GAA players has been entirely restricted to terrible refereeing. (In the past, the NFL has suspended and fined players for tweets against their coaches in the past). And what would stop a player from claiming the Kenny Britt defense?. We think the social media whizzes at HQ might be in over their heads.
It comes down to respect, says Duffy:
