Black-book Black-balled

Without the merest hint of a warning, the GAA announced at the tail end of last week that it has decided to discontinue the practice of referees showing the black book to players. This will take immediate effect.

"In future referees will inform a player who has committed a 'Noting/Ticking' infraction that his number has been recorded and that a repeat offence will earn the player in question a yellow card. The only change arising from this decision is that referees will no longer display the black book to players meaning play will no longer be stopped to allow for this practice."

There'll be no more phrases like "he's got the black book", or "he's only ticked him", or (my personal favourite) "he's on a black tick" (whatever that's supposed to mean?!) heard in the stands and terraces.

And there is a serious gripe to be had with this so-called "procedural change". How the hell are the good, paying spectators in the stands, and those sitting comfortably watching on TV, going to know if or when a player has been ticked?

It reminds me of the good old days, before even yellow and red cards had been introduced to the playing fields of football and hurling. The offending player's name would be taken as a caution, and if they were to be sent-off the referee pointed to the line. It was a guessing match most of the time for spectators, and even players had difficulty knowing what the referee had just done. Sure poor Charlie Redmond didn't know if he was coming or going!

Removing the black-book seems like a needless change from the GAA. Referees actions are difficult enough to interpret at the best of times; this will only serve to put fans (and even players) further in the dark.