# Referee

This month

September 2023

# Who'd Be A Ref

'There’s times where you love it and times where you have a dark week'

Andrew Brace is one of four Irish officials at the World Cup.

3.8k

Sep 2nd 2023, 7:30 AM

This year

2023

# Man in the Middle

'It's disappointing' - Hurling referee Fergal Horgan retires from inter-county game

The Tipperary man has refereed three All-Ireland senior hurling finals.

16.4k

Apr 11th 2023, 8:51 PM

# Unacceptable

Police called in after Old Firm referee's contact details published online

Kevin Clancy was subjected to ‘threatening and abusive’ messages in the wake of Saturday’s Celtic-Rangers game.

6.7k

Apr 10th 2023, 6:02 PM

# Unhappy

Real Madrid to appear as 'injured party' in Barca referee scandal case

Spanish prosecutors charged the Catalan club with corruption on Friday.

5.0k

Mar 12th 2023, 2:14 PM

# response

Cork soccer club vows to defend reputation over referees' boycott

Club said CCTV shows ‘very significant discrepancies’ between the statement made by the Cork Branch of the ISRS and the video evidence.

7.9k

Mar 6th 2023, 2:26 PM

# Say Cheese

Referee body cameras to be trialled by FA in adult grassroots leagues

The intention of the trial is to improve behaviour towards referees.

1.4k

Feb 17th 2023, 1:18 PM

Last year

2022

# Referee

David Coldrick says social media has put 'increased attention' on referees

The Meath referee came under scrutiny after the Galway-Armagh All-Ireland quarter-final.

2.5k

Oct 19th 2022, 10:32 AM

# rugby weekly extra

'I think Sexton is justified to try and push to get the right decision'

The Leinster captain’s interactions with referee Craig Evans were discussed on The42 Rugby Weekly Extra.

30.0k

Oct 10th 2022, 3:00 PM

# underage game

Roscommon GAA and gardaí looking into incident that led to referee receiving medical attention

The incident occurred during an underage game in Ballyforan.

58.6k

Updated

Sep 1st 2022, 3:00 PM

# Mic'd Up

TG4 feature live referee mic for first time in today's Kerry SHC final

GAA Beo viewers were able to hear the rationale and reasoning behind decisions as the action unfolded.

9.2k

Aug 7th 2022, 8:51 PM

Voices

Opinion: We as legislators have an obligation to tackle the scourge of sledging in sport

Shane Cassells addresses the rise of online ‘sledging’ – where one player shouts abuse at the other to make them angry – during sporting games.

19.2k

Aug 2nd 2022, 8:00 PM

# feedback

The All Blacks should have been shown two yellow cards in the first Test

Ireland are understood to have got feedback that they also should have been awarded a penalty try.

35.2k

Updated

Jul 8th 2022, 3:06 PM

# Treatment

Abuse of referees should not be accepted but is 'part and parcel of our game'

Maggie Farrelly is an experienced inter-county referee.

4.2k

May 11th 2022, 5:04 PM

# Humour

Snooker star Judd Trump sees the funny side as he plays joke on referee

The 32-year-old distracted Ben Williams then moved a ball to pretend to give himself an easier shot – to the amusement of the Crucible crowd.

8.6k

Apr 27th 2022, 8:38 PM

# First Time

Referee Maggie Farrelly to make history in men's Allianz League game

The Cavan official will take charge of the Division 4 football match between Leitrim and London this Sunday.

7.8k

Feb 14th 2022, 5:14 PM

# slap on the wrist

Bundee Aki gets citing warning for 'act of dissent' towards referee Raynal

The Ireland centre will not face a suspension for remonstrating with the French match official.

6.8k

Jan 19th 2022, 1:36 PM

All time

# Reaction

Loughmore boss hits out - 'Our first reaction was we were treated pretty badly down here'

Frankie McGrath saw his team finish with 13 men in today’s Munster semi-final loss to Ballygunner.

56.2k

Updated

Dec 12th 2021, 9:51 PM

# making history

Cavan's Maggie Farrelly set to become the first woman to referee a senior men's county final

The official will take charge of the Cavan senior football championship final replay between Gowna and Ramor United.

5.0k

Nov 8th 2021, 1:42 PM

# Double Down

Kolisi: 'I didn't feel respected at all. I didn't feel I was given a fair opportunity'

The Springboks say that the Lions ‘destroyed the dignity of the series.’

38.1k

Jul 30th 2021, 2:23 PM

# Hitting back

Rugby Australia slam Erasmus' 'unacceptable' attack on referee Berry

The Aussie union’s CEO says public attacks like this can’t be tolerated.

9.6k

Jul 30th 2021, 10:15 AM

# Top man

Lions believe O'Keeffe is 'professional enough' not to be distracted by Erasmus

Meanwhile, Dan Biggar is on track to be fit for tomorrow’s second Test.

5.7k

Jul 30th 2021, 9:43 AM

# Unhappy

Ronald Koeman fumes over referee's display in El Clasico

The Dutch coach walked out of one television interview after the match.

6.2k

Apr 11th 2021, 4:17 PM

# trailblazer

Rebecca Welch makes history by becoming first female referee appointed to English Football League match

‘It shows that there is a real opportunity to young girls,’ says the 37-year-old, who takes charge of Harrowgate v Port Vale on Easter Monday.

2.8k

Mar 30th 2021, 3:25 PM

# In The Middle

Irish officials to take charge of a World Cup qualifier for first time in four years

Referee Rob Hennessy will lead the team of Irish officials for Saturday’s game between Belarus and Estonia.

4.7k

Mar 25th 2021, 2:03 PM

# rebuttal

Celtic star insists he is not a diver

Albian Ajeti was accused of causing referee Kevin Clancy to wrongly award the Hoops a spot-kick against Kilmarnock.

4.6k

Feb 12th 2021, 8:35 PM

# time off

Mike Dean granted request to stand down from Premier League this weekend over death threats

The referee was involved in two controversial incidents last week.

3.5k

Feb 9th 2021, 1:02 PM

# Man in the Middle

Nigel Owens retires from international rugby after refereeing 100th Test

The recent Autumn Nations Cup match between France and Italy was the popular Welshman’s last at that level.

17.4k

Dec 11th 2020, 3:10 PM

# Welfare

Online abuse sees EPCR switch referee Brace's Champions Cup appointment

‘With his welfare and development as a referee to the fore, this course of action was deemed to be appropriate.’

13.3k

Dec 10th 2020, 3:31 PM

# Calling the shots

'About time' - history made as Frappart becomes first female to referee men’s Champions League clash

The Frenchwoman broke more boundaries last night.

4.8k

Dec 3rd 2020, 10:22 AM

# poachers

Beirne braced for breakdown battle in Paris with Barnes not ruled out as ref

Ireland and France both have strong jackal threats in their teams.

10.6k

Oct 27th 2020, 6:00 PM

# Unimpressed

Former referee sorry for officials over penalty ’embarrassment’

George Courtney has been left perplexed following a weekend full of controversy.

9.3k

Sep 28th 2020, 7:13 PM

# TMO

Joy Neville makes more history as Nigel Owens gets 100th Test appointment

Meanwhile, Andy Farrell’s Ireland have learned who will be refereeing them this autumn.

12.1k

Sep 24th 2020, 3:45 PM

# whistle blower

'You're almost taking a punch on the chin for the good of the game'

Irishman JP Doyle was made redundant by the RFU in England earlier this month.

21.1k

Aug 30th 2020, 9:00 AM

# Side Entry

Analysis: Total accuracy at the breakdown is now almost impossible for referees

Eoin Toolan takes a look at some of the issues with the modern-day breakdown.

11.0k

Mar 11th 2020, 8:06 PM

# The Line-Out

'She hugged me and said my story saved her life': Referee Nigel Owens on helping others

The well-known Welsh official has used his profile to speak about overcoming difficult situations.

26.4k

Feb 28th 2020, 3:35 PM

# Cherry picked on

Bournemouth's Gosling demands apology from ref over 'sarky' comments

‘I think he should really come out and apologise because I thought he was a disgrace.’

5.8k

Feb 12th 2020, 1:58 PM

# League Sunday

O'Rourke in contact with Gough after criticism of language used in RTÉ TV GAA debate

The comments were made during a discussion on the black card on last night’s programme.

88.1k

Feb 3rd 2020, 5:02 PM

# Audio

Bravo to Super Rugby for finally allowing fans in the stadium to hear the TMO

The supporters at Eden Park could eavesdrop on the chat between the referee and his TMO.

6.7k

Jan 31st 2020, 8:52 AM

# Admission

'Dark-humoured' joke led to sacking of former Premier League ref Madley

The PGMOL said at the time he had ‘decided to relocate due to a change in his personal circumstances.’

11.1k

Jan 1st 2020, 11:02 AM

# belief

Schmidt 'incredibly positive' for Ireland as he hopes for better refereeing

The Ireland boss has handed Johnny Sexton the ‘deserved honour’ of captaining the team.

19.7k

Oct 2nd 2019, 6:50 AM