Seán Kelly calls for life bans to tackle abuse against match officials

Former GAA President Seán Kelly has called for life bans and a greater responsibility put on clubs to deal with "intolerable" physical and verbal abuse aimed at match officials.

A minor hurling league game in Dublin between Naomh Fionnbarra and Clanna Gael Fontenoy was abandoned on Sunday following an alleged assault on a match official.

Last September Wexford GAA handed down the maximum 96-week suspension to a club mentor involved in an assault on a referee and umpire.

Before that, an incident in Roscommon left a referee in hospital and games postponed in protest.

A motion was passed at GAA's Annual Congress in February that doubled the suspension for anyone who assaults a match official, with the minimum ban going up from 48 weeks to 96 weeks.

However Kelly wants the rules tightened and clarified further to completely stamp out any potential flashpoints.

"It's intolerable, and while the GAA - and particular an Uachtaráin - have expressed their condemnation of these incidents, it’s obviously not getting through to everyone," he told RTÉ Sport.

"I think it’s time now for zero tolerance, particularly in ensuring that number one, the individual involved is given possibly a life ban.

"Secondly I think clubs have to take responsibility. They have responsibility for their supporters… and they’ll have to bear the brunt as well if one of their supporters commits an offence like this.

"Thirdly, these incidents should probably be dealt with at central level rather than local or county board level. At least then I think then you’d get an opportunity to show an intent from the GAA to stamp this out once and for all."

"The time for real action is now. If we don't do it this will just continue every now and then, which is not acceptable."

Kelly