“It needs reworked and rethought.”
In the wake of Donegal’s demolition of Armagh in the Ulster championship, the overturning of suspensions in the build up to the game remains a huge talking point.
Donegal had Neil McGee, and Odhran McFadden-Ferry banned for the game, and chose not to appeal the decision.
Armagh however, who had four players – Stefan Campbell, Aidan Nugent, Rian O’Neill and Ciarán Mackin – all hit with the book, appealed the decision and got all of their suspensions rescinded.
Despite this, Donegal still came out on top, and former Armagh forward, Oisin McConville, has admitted that the current system needs to change.
Speaking on BBC SportSound, the Orchard county legend thinks that the time for change is right now.
“In 1999 I got sent off against Donegal and I got my red card rescinded and I was able to play in the next game.
“Rightly so, I may add, but even as far back as then there was players getting off and it has been a continuous thing.
“There have been more high-profile cases than this. Diarmuid Connolly in 2015 or 16, he had clearly struck out at somebody in an All-Ireland semi-final and ended up being able to play in an All-Ireland final.”
McConville said the system needs “reworked and rethought” and said the “optics aren’t good” for the sport.
“I think now may be our opportunity to do that,” he said on potential change.
“When things are going like this and awareness has been heightened over the past number of weeks, what better time to do something about it than now?”
After the game, Donegal manager Declan Bonner wasn’t shy in explaining his feelings towards the whole ordeal.
“We weren’t going to waste two or three weeks to see would we or would we not have players available to be quite honest. We made that decision and that was it. Normally the referee’s report is not going to be overturned,” Bonner said.
“I was very surprised, to be honest, that it did happen. It leaves the CCCC with a lot of questions to answer in terms of how they’re going to go around with the disciplinary hearing again because it’s in tatters to be quite honest.
“But it’s nothing to do with us, we just got on with the job at hand, and as I said, getting the players ready.
“At the minute, I’ve no confidence, no. Absolutely not. But at the end of the day, as I say, we’ll just get ready for the semi-final now.”
