THE way Gaelic football's new advantage rule has been implemented by referees so far is "disconcerting" according to Tyrone manager Mickey Harte, writes Cahair O'Kane.
Writing in his weekly column in today's edition of The Irish News, Harte says the amount of anomalies he has seen in the rule's implementation in the opening weeks of the season
is worrying, while claiming that one referee told a player he "forgot" to use the rule.
"We are a little over two months into the new season and the amount of variables that i have observed already in relation to this rule is disconcerting," said Harte.
"in one instance a player coming to collect the pass as an inside forward was clearly fouled from behind but the ball
broke to an incoming teammate who was in an excellent position to complete a score.
"The ref blew for the free immediately and the potential advantage was lost. When asked why he didn't allow the play to continue the referee was honest and intimated that he forgot to implement the new sanction.
"Whilst the honesty of his reply is to be admired the net effect could on occasion result in the losing of a highly significant game."
The experienced Tyrone manager said that the growing responsibilities being placed on referees was going to lead to mistakes such as the one in Monday's MacRory cup final, when Maghera's Danny Tallon got away with a double bounce in the lead-up to his crucial goal.
"asking the match official to keep his attention on all of the play which is continuing in addition to keeping his arm in the air, count for up to five seconds and make a judgement if an advantage has accrued or not has all the ingredients for big matches being won or lost by wrong calls," said Harte.