Introduction of trial Match Ban System

Monday, January 09, 2012

In accordance with a decision of Annual Congress last April, a trial system of Match Bans will operate in the Allianz Leagues and the Senior Inter County Championships in 2012. Under the system, minimum 1 and 2 game suspensions will replace the current minimum 4 and 8 week suspensions for Category II and III infractions respectively.

However, penalties for Category I, IV and V infractions will remain time-based and in the case of Categories IV and V, applicable across all levels, codes and grades of the Association as per existing rule. The new system will see Match Bans incurred in the upcoming Allianz Leagues carried over to the Senior Inter-County Championships in 2012, if applicable.

Match bans incurred in the Senior Inter-County Championships in 2012 may also be carried over to the Allianz Leagues in 2013, if applicable. It should be noted, however, that in the current Provincial subsidiary competitions, all suspensions incurred will remain time based.

FAQs detailing practical examples of how the new trial system will work are outlined below.

Cat II & III Suspension provisions for 2012 Allianz Leagues and Senior Inter County Championships
Category II
(i) Striking or attempting to strike with arm, elbow, hand or knee
(ii) Striking or attempting to strike with a hurley, with minimal force
(iii) Kicking or attempting to kick, with minimal force
(iv) Behaving in a way which is dangerous to an opponent
(v) Spitting at an opponent
(vi) Contributing to a melee
(vii) Abusive language towards a Referee, Umpire or Sideline Official.

Penalty:
Category II suspensions incurred in the Allianz Leagues and Senior Inter-County Championships in 2012 shall carry the following penalty:
(i) Minimum: One match ban i.e. the next game in the Allianz League or Senior Inter-County Championship as applicable
(ii) Minimum on Repeat Infraction: 2 match ban i.e. the next 2 games in the Allianz League and/or Senior Inter-County Championship as applicable

Category III
(i) Striking or attempting to strike with the head
(ii) Striking with hurley, either with force or causing injury
(iii) Attempting to strike with hurley, with force
(iv) Kicking, either with force or causing injury
(v) Attempting to kick, with force
(vi) Stamping
(vii) Inflicting injury recklessly by means other than those stated above
(viii) Any type of assault on an opposing team official.

Penalty:
Category III suspensions incurred in the Allianz Leagues and Senior Inter-County Championships in 2012 shall carry the following penalty:
(i) Minimum: 2 match ban i.e. the next 2 games in the Allianz League or Senior Inter-County Championship as applicable
(ii) Minimum on Repeat Infraction: 3 match ban i.e. the next 3 games in the Allianz League and/or Senior Inter-County Championship as applicable

Practical examples of how the trial system will work:
Q: During this trial period, an U-21 player receives a Cat II suspension (one match) while playing for his county in the Allianz Hurling League.
Suspension: The 1 match suspension applies only to the next game in the Allianz Hurling League or Senior Inter-County Championship, as applicable. The player can continue to play for his club, or at U21 grade for his county or for his county’s footballers.

Q: During this trial period, an U-21 player receives a Cat II suspension while playing in the U-21 Championship for his county. What suspension will he serve?
Suspension: Match suspensions incurred in the trial period will only be relevant to Senior Inter-County League and Championship. Therefore the player would be suspended under the existing provisions of R. 7.2 and be suspended from all playing activity in the code and level (inter-county) for a minimum of 4 weeks (inclusive of next game etc). He would therefore not be able to play at senior grade for his county in the code in which the infraction occurred during the period in question.

Q: An inter-county player receives a Cat II (min. 4 Week) or Cat III (min. 8 week) suspension while playing for his club.
Suspension: As existing, i.e. the suspension is only relevant to his club’s games. He can continue to play for his County.

Q: An inter-county player receives a Cat II (min. 1 game) or Cat III (min. 2 game) suspension while playing for his county.
Suspension: As existing, i.e. the suspension is only relevant to his county’s games. He can continue to play for his club.

Q: A player receives a repeat Cat II (2 match suspension) in his county’s last game in the Senior Inter-County Championship in 2012.

Suspension: The player is ineligible for his county’s first 2 games in the 2013 Allianz League. The suspension does not affect his participation at club, underage inter-county, intermediate or Junior inter-county, college or 3rd Levels.

Q: A player receives a Cat IV (12 week suspension) while playing for his county.
Suspension: This suspension – as per the current rules – would apply across all codes and categories. Effectively, the player is ineligible to play for any team for the 12 week duration of his suspension.

Q: A player receives a repeat Cat IV (24 week) suspension playing for his club?
Suspension: The player is ineligible to play for any team for a period of 24 weeks, as per current rule.

Q: A player receives a Cat II suspension playing for his county in the Dr. McKenna Cup (or other subsidiary competition).
Suspension: The player is ineligible to play for his county for a minimum time period of 4 weeks and would miss all inter county games during that period, including the start of the Allianz League if relevant.

Q: A player receives a Cat II suspension playing for his county in a challenge or Tournament game.
Suspension: The player is ineligible to play for his county for the time period of the suspension imposed (the trial is only relevant to the Allianz Leagues and Inter-County Championships).

Q: A player receives a Cat II (one match) suspension in the All Ireland Final of 2012. As this effectively comes at the end of the trial period, does he incur the relevant suspension in the following year’s competition?
Suspension: Yes – the player would be ineligible for the first game in the 2013 Allianz League.

Q: A player is suspended for a Cat II infraction in 2011 and again, less than 48 weeks later, under the new system in 2012 in the Allianz League or a Championship game. Does this constitute a repeat infraction and if so, what suspension applies?
Suspension: It does constitute a repeat infraction and the relevant suspension would be dictated by the disciplinary rules governing the given competition in 2012 (i.e. the player would receive a minimum 2 match ban).

Q: A player is suspended for a Cat II offence under the trial system in 2012 and again less than 48 weeks later during 2013. Does this constitute a repeat infraction and if so, what suspension applies?
Suspension: It does constitute a repeat infraction provided it was incurred in the same code and at the same (inter-county) level. The relevant suspension will be dictated by the disciplinary rules governing the given competition in 2013 (i.e. if the trial period is unsuccessful and the old rules remain in place, a repeat infraction would be liable to the provisions for same in existing Rule 7.2).

For reference purposes details of Category I, IV and V offences are listed in the Official Guide which can be viewed at www.gaa.ie or by following the link.