Top referee Ray Matthews has said he would back a strike in all 32 counties in support of referee Kevin Naughton following an alleged assault in Roscommon.
Naughton needed medical attention following the alleged assault while he was officiating an U17 clash between St Aidan's and St Dominic's.
All games in Roscommon last week were postponed as referees in the county opted to strike.
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Ray Matthews only returned to the refereeing circuit in 2020 Antrim after quitting in 2011 after he required hospital treatment after being assaulted following an U21 semi-final between Rasharkin and Lámh Dhearg in Ballymena.
“The referees in Roscommon were 100 per cent correct to go on strike,” said Matthews.
“I know some people were asking why didn’t all referees, every county do the same thing?
“If referees across all 32 counties stop games for a weekend, it would send out a message to say ‘enough is enough’.
“Referees are taking abuse on a regular basis when they don’t have to be. Nobody is perfect.
“Referees are never correct all the time. We don’t always get it right, but nothing justifies what happened to the referee in Roscommon.”
Only last month, the GAA published a report examining the extent of referee abuse in Gaelic games. The report noted how 94 per cent of the 438 referees surveyed have experienced verbal abuse while 23 per cent have experienced physical abuse.
Matthews feels there was a ‘missed opportunity’ following his attack back in 2011. He said he still feels let down by the appeals process after Rasharkin successfully launched an appeal to the Ulster Council which saw a blanket ban for all their adult teams overruled.
St Mary’s were still thrown out of the U21 football championship, but Matthews argued the original sanctions imposed by the Antrim County Board would have sent out a clear message.
“What happened to me could have been used as a deterrent for future instances,” said Matthews.
“There could have been an example set - this is what happens if you physically abuse a referee this will be the outcome.
“The minute the appeals process kicks in is another matter. The referee doesn’t get another say once his report goes in.
“There have been a lot of instances lately about referees walking away from the game. A lot of that is down to verbal and physical abuse.
“There are times in this sport when people need to stand up and say what happened was wrong, hold their hands up and take their punishment on the chin.”
The Rossa whistler believes that very little has changed at games and the environment still exists for referees to be physically abused.
He concedes that little can be done to stop some so-called fans shouting verbal abuse at officials, but he thinks more can be done to help ensure their safety after games.
“I know of an incident in the last week when a referee was fearful leaving the pitch,” added Matthews.
“I was always of the opinion that, at every single match, there should be someone appointed to look after the referee. That’s at all levels.
“That won’t stop verbal abuse. Referees can’t do a lot about verbal abuse.
“The abuse that referees get now, verbal abuse, is very similar to the abuse they were getting back when I first quit in 2010.
“Nothing has changed. You still have the usual boys hanging over the fence, who have never seen a rulebook in their life and think they know the game better than the referee.
“I know if I’ve made a bad decision or I’ve had a bad game - I don't need some clown in the crowd to tell me that. Likewise, I’ll know when I’ve had a good game and I can leave with my head held high.”
Despite his own ordeal, time away from the game forced Matthews into a rethink. He still felt he’d something to offer and started back refereeing games for Antrim LGFA in 2019.
A year later, he returned to the men’s game and is back taking charge of hurling and football games across Antrim.
He was the man in the middle at the weekend as Armoy defeated Lámh Dhearg in the Antrim Junior Hurling Championship.
While he says he enjoys refereeing, he fears the recruitment of officials is going to be a serious issue in Antrim and beyond.
“I walked away as a point of principle. I just couldn’t continue to referee in Antrim at that time, but I missed it,” said Matthews.
“I’m not saying I was Pat McEnaney or Barry Kelly, but I was a half-decent referee and I enjoyed travelling around the country, meeting different people and you miss the banter at GAA grounds.
“In Antrim, we’re short of referees. There are quite a few referees who are doing two games a day and maybe doing three matches at the weekend because there aren’t enough referees to go around.
“I understand why some referees are walking away, but I enjoy it. There are a lot of benefits to being a referee. You get to travel around the place - Cushendall or Ballycastle or down to the Ards peninsula - and chat to people you haven’t seen in ages. There’s the obvious health benefits and you generally do enjoy the craic.”
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