'Today has been transformational' - Burns on new rules

GAA president Jarlath Burns said he was "very proud" of the work done by the Jim Gavin-led Football Review Committee

GAA president Jarlath Burns believes Saturday's adoption of the gaelic football's new playing rules will be "transformational" for the game.

All of the Football Review Committee's wide-ranging proposed rule changes for the 2025 season were accepted with big majorities at the GAA Special Congress at Croke Park.

These included the adoption of the new 40-metre arc which goalkeepers will have to kick beyond, teams having to maintain at least three outfield players in both halves at all times and two points being awarded for kicks over the bar from outside the arc.

The GAA president was very keen to emphasise that the new rules will apply across all levels of gaelic football, from the inter-county game to the underage grades.

"It’s one step on a process because next year we’re going to trial these rules but the significance is, that this is going to be club, county, underage and across all of the sections of the GAA," he added.

"It will be into the championship as well, which is new and novel for us, because traditionally, we never trialled new rules in the championship."

Burns paid effusive tribute to the work done by Jim Gavin's Football Review Committee in coming up with the package of new rules aimed at increasing the game's entertainment value amid concerns that it has become overly defensive and possession-based.

"I’m very proud of the work that’s been done by the FRC led by the chair Jim Gavin.

"There was a lesson in it for all of us in getting the evidence together, getting the data and doing a lot of travelling around the country asking people their opinion.

"This time next year, we’ll come back and do another review and we’ll see how many of these rules make it as permanent rules in gaelic football."

The GAA president said he was mindful of that referees - including especially those at club level - will now have to quickly adjust to the new rules but added he was fully confident they would be up to the task following training that will be provided in the coming weeks.

The new rules aimed at clamping down on verbal abuse directed at referees include team captains being the only personnel allowed to query decisions and the ball being moved forward 50 metres for protests made by other players and 13 metres for complaints from dugouts.

Referees will also have greater discretion to apply the advantage rule beyond the current five-second limit while linesmen and women - who henceworth will be called line umpires - will have new powers to inform referees of foul play that they observe.

"We are now going to embark on a comprehensive and significant training of referees in these new rules," added the Armagh man.

"We are confident that they know the rules already and that they are looking forward to them as well because a lot of the rules are to the ref’s advantage as well in terms of dissent and it gives them greater power to do their job unhindered."