Congress to vote on FRC rule changes

The Football Review Committee have recommended a series of tweaks to their suite of new rules, the most notable being around two-point scores, ahead of this weekend's Special Congress, where votes will be taken on the introduction of the rules on a permanent basis.

In the FRC's final report, released early last month, the rules body proposed an alteration to the two-point rule, whereby goalkeepers could no longer prevent a two-point score by touching the ball as it travelled over the crossbar.

The initial wording said that two points would be awarded if a player kicked a score from outside the 40 metre arc, provided it was achieved "without the ball having been touched by any other player."

The amended rule proposes that a two point score would now apply, "provided no other player from that player's team has touched the ball".

The initial rule had caused some confusion in the 2025 championship, notably when Mayo were only awarded one point after Galway goalkeeper Connor Gleeson got the faintest of touches to Ryan O'Donoghue's long range free as it passed over the crossbar.

Another proposed change concerns the throw-in, with players who encroach inside the 45m line before the referee throws in the ball being penalised with a free-kick on the halfway line to the opposing team. The same penalty should apply if the player stationed on the halfway line steps inside the field of play prematurely ahead of the throw-in.

The dissent rules have been strengthened with an additional breach of "disruptive conduct", with team officials guilty of misconduct being penalised with a 13m free to the opposing team, moved forward from 20m previously.

Sideline officials would also be empowered to alert referees to rule breaches.

In their report, the FRC also recommended a change to the hooter/ stop clock rule at the conclusion of halves. They have proposed a reversion back to something like the original rule, with the half of play ending when the hooter sounds, unless the ball is in flight or a '45, a free-kick or a sideline is to be taken.

On Saturday, Congress will only vote on whether to adopt the technology on a permanent basis, with the functioning of the hooter decided by Central Council.

The only non-FRC related motion this weekend concerns the manufacturing of gear, a motion that withdrawn from February's congress.

The proposed change seeks to remove the wording "shall be of Irish manufacture" on GAA gear, so as to better align with EU law.

The new wording will say: "All jerseys, shorts, stockings, tracksuits [tops and bottoms] and kitbags, worn and/or used for official matches, in prematch or post-match television or video interviews, player walk-ups and photographs, shall be manufactured by a GAA Licensed Kit Manufacturer. This requirement shall also apply to replica playing gear".

The Gaelic Players Association annual member survey has shown that 94% of players believe that their playing experience has been improved by the new rules.

The survey also indicated 66% feel their playing experience is now "much improved".

The data is drawn from responses received from 1,175 male inter-county footballers. It represents 95% of the GPA’s male football membership.

Less than 3% of players believe that their playing experience is worse now than it was under the old playing rules.

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