SUSPENSIONS HANDED DOWN to GAA players sent off for violent conduct will be measured in terms of matches rather than weeks under a new disciplinary code which will be trialled this season.
The GAA confirmed details of the new policy today, which is being introduced for the 2012 Allianz Leagues and senior inter-county championships in accordance with a decision taken at Congress last April.
Under the trial rules, one- and two-match bans will replace the minimum four- and eight-week bans which are currently served by players sent off for Category II and III offences, typically involving violent conduct.
Category I suspensions which apply to players shown two yellow cards, and Category IV and V offences concerning players’ behaviour towards match officials, will not be affected and remain time-based.
It is hoped that the new match-based suspensions will be seen as an improvement in the GAA’s disciplinary system, eliminating a situation where a player could miss a disproportionate amount of matches in a particularly congested period or due to replays.
Bans incurred during the upcoming Allianz Leagues will carry over to the 2012 senior inter-county championships, and may even carry over to the start of the 2013 Allianz Leagues if applicable. However, any punishments handed down during the current provincial subsidiary competitions will remain time-based.