GAA Implements Dissent Rule in Hurling Leagues

The new dissent rule in hurling will be implemented for the upcoming Allianz Hurling League finals, the GAA has confirmed.

New Rule Passed with Overwhelming Support

Motion 19 – the proposed introduction of the dissent rule to hurling – passed with 95.1% of the vote at Saturday’s GAA Congress at Croke Park.

How the Rule Works

The rule is already in place in football, where a 50-metre punishment is the penalty. Hurling will adopt a potential 30-metre penalty for dissent.

Implementation Timeline

According to regulation, the rule comes into force 28 days after being voted through. Which means it will be in play the weekend after the final round of Division 1A/1B fixtures, with the finals scheduled for April 4-5.

The Division 2, 3 and 4 finals are scheduled for March 28-29, so the rule will similarly be in effect for those matches.

“One third of the teams that will play in the championship will have direct experience of it,”

GAA director general Tom Ryan

Considerations for Early Implementation

The GAA considered bringing the rule into effect earlier to allow all teams to gain experience with it. However, officials just felt that was maybe a little bit unfair on referees to be short-circuiting the process.

“So just play it straight, 28 days from today (Saturday) is when it comes in and it’ll catch the weekend.”

Tom Ryan

Recent Congress Disruption

GAA Congress was recently disrupted by protesters calling for an end to the Allianz sponsorship deal. Chaotic scenes erupted when demonstrators gained access to Croke Park on Saturday afternoon, temporarily halting proceedings.

The implementation of this new dissent rule marks a significant step in promoting respect and discipline within hurling, mirroring the positive impact it has had in football. The GAA aims to foster a more positive environment for players and officials alike.