Burns paid glowing tribute to the work of Jim Gavin’s Football Review Committee to prepare the new rules package aimed at improving the entertainment value of the game, amid concerns that the game had become overly defensive and possession-based.

“I am very proud of the work done by the FRC under the leadership of President Jim Gavin.

“It has been a lesson for all of us to gather evidence, collect data and make many trips around the country to ask people their opinions.

“This time next year we will come back and do another review and see how many of these rules become permanent rules in Gaelic football.”

The GAA president added that he was aware that referees – particularly at club level – would now need to adapt quickly to the new rules, but was fully confident that they would be up to the task following the training to be provided in the coming period. weeks.

New rules aimed at limiting verbal abuse towards referees include team captains being the only staff allowed to question decisions and the ball being moved 50 meters forward for objections by other players and 13 meters for complaints from the dugouts.

Referees will also have greater discretion to apply the advantage rule beyond the current five-second limit; Linesmen and women (hereinafter referred to as line judges) will have new powers to inform referees of foul play they observe.

“We will now begin extensive and significant training for referees on these new rules,” the Armagh man added.

“We are confident that they already know the rules and are looking forward to them because most of the rules are to the referee’s advantage, also from the opposition’s perspective, and give them more power to do their job unhindered.”