With video assistance refereeing (VAR) becoming the central talking point over the pond in the Premier League every week, the GAA are proposing to bring it into our national games.
According to a report on RTÉ, after discussions regarding the possible introduction of a Television Match Official (TMO) for football and hurling, a GAA version of VAR might be in the future for Gaelic games.
It is reported that during recent meetings of An Coiste Bainistíochta and Ard Chomhairle 'a preliminary report on the use of a TMO was discussed'.
This would be the first major technological advance in the sport since the introduction of HawkEye, which was implemented in 2013.
With the constant debate surrounding VAR in other sports, would the introduction of the technology really solve some of the issues currently present within the GAA?
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Do we need VAR in the GAA?
You wouldn’t have to go far into the GAA archives to find the need for VAR when O’Loughlin Gaels had a goal blocked on the line by Fintan Burke, but with further examination, it appeared that the St Thomas’ man had luck on his side as the sliotar had crossed the white line.
The Kilkenny side then lost the match 0-18 to 0-17. Would the green flag have made a difference? We will never know.
Perhaps Brian Lohan and Clare could also feel aggrieved when they had two questionable frees not awarded in the final moments of last year’s Munster hurling final, which would have allowed the Bannermen to level the game.
Arguably, the furious fans of Louth would have begged for VAR 14 ago when Joe Sheridan famously threw the ball in the net.
Those are just some of the more high profile incidents.
How would it work?
In theory, VAR should be an excellent introduction for GAA, but how will it work?
The stop/start nature with decisions taking five-plus minutes in the Premier League is simply a non-runner. Perhaps the best solution is a three-challenge system where either the team captain or manager can go to the referee and challenge a decision, which would then allow the ref to go to the monitor to review the decision in question and to award or dismiss the free.
Another point which needs to be made is whether the GAA rules are up to scratch. Every official doesn’t referee the same way, so if we go to the aid of technology, we will have to have the rules of the game very clear, with no room for error or change of opinion depending on who has the whistle.
And perhaps the central view, especially for the GAA, is the cost, with Hawk-Eye costing €8,000 a game. The costs to run such technology would be more expensive. Perhaps they will work some contract with TG4 and RTÉ to use their cameras.
It would come into the game sooner rather than later, so we need to learn to accept VAR and expect to have the same flaws as shown in other sports. If done correctly, it could add great value to the organisation.
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