Wexford referees have served strike notice on the county board. Following a heated a.g.m., the referees' society decided to respond to a controversial reinstatement of a player by withdrawing their services from January 1st.

The county disciplinary committee had allowed Faythe Harriers player Gavin Buggy to play in the county senior hurling championship semi-finals even though he had received a straight red card when playing with Sarsfields in the county junior football final seven days earlier.

Tommy Kirwan, the referees' chairman, said that while video evidence was used, he had viewed the video and it was inconclusive. "We are demanding that the disciplinary committee not be reappointed, while we have also written to GAA president Seβn McCague."

"The referees in the county have been completely undermined. We may as well bring out greeting cards instead of red and yellow cards."

As a result of the Wexford decision, Jim Morrissey, the referee at the centre of the controversy, has decided to hang up the whistle.