THE FORMER All Ireland football referee, Paddy Collins, has criticised the selection of Meath and Mayo players who were sent off in the All Ireland final replay as All Stars.

Collins, the Westmeath County Board secretary, makes the comment in a lengthy section on discipline in his report to the county convention in Rochfortbridge next Sunday.

He does not name any of the players involved, but leaves little to the imagination when he reports: "The aim (to impose discipline at all levels) is not helped by the message coming across from the recent All Star awards, which seemed to be saying that it is alright to discredit the association, you will still be considered to be the fairest and best by your peers.

"People are entitled to ask: is the idea of good sportsmanship, which was once of paramount importance to awards of this nature now considered old fashioned and not worth preserving."

He is referring to a rule which was applied strictly in the original All Star scheme at the insistence of the GAA. This rule stipulated that players sent off during the year could not be considered for selection as All Stars. This was later dropped.

Referring to lack of discipline among adults involved in the running of underage competitions, Collins reports: "It is to be expected that the foundation of good discipline would be laid by those dealing with youth. This, unfortunately, is not always the case and, indeed, there is ample evidence to suggest that the situation is getting progressively worse in our county, with a number of disgraceful incidents coming to notice during the year.

"There is absolutely no doubt but that some people who have responsibility for the management of young players, juvenile and, minor, school or college, are themselves lacking in the right attitude. Even though such people are in the minority, they do a great deal of harm to our games.

He blames the "win at all costs" attitude, the "raucous and over zealous officials on the sideline and occasionally on the playing field" and the failure to develop a respect for the status of the referee.

Not surprisingly, he goes on to outline the difficulties which arise when trying to get referees and other officials to take charge of games.

"One of the saddest and most disquieting features of the year has been the fact that that a number of recently trained referees have had to discontinue officiating because of the abuse heaped upon them by players and, particularly, by officials.

"More often than not he (the referee) becomes the fall guy, guaranteed an instant and often protracted position in football or hurling's `hall of infamy'."

Collins is critical also of highly paid chat show presenters (who) blatantly disregard any notion of fair play and balance in the allocation of time to the association.