GAA: Its days are numbered.. but we've still got a problem SAYS SEAN KELLY; SIN-BIN DEBATE: Red card looms for foul rule.

Byline: PAUL KEANE 

GAA President Sean Kelly has admitted that the controversial sin-bin rule will more than likely be altered - sooner rather than later.

An announcement could be made as early as next Monday when a press briefing is planned during the Vodafone All-Stars tour of Hong Kong.

However, a Management Committee meeting has not been pencilled in until the following Saturday when it is more likely that changes would be rubber-stamped.

Either way it seems certain that the death knell has sounded for the sin bin experiment in its current format.

Kelly said yesterday he 'presumed' some alteration to the controversial rule is likely following a meeting of the Football Task Force.

The high powered committee that includes top managers Mick O'Dwyer and Dublin footballer Dessie Farrell met for around two hours at Croke Park on Monday night.

It's understood that the remaining two members, Donegal manager Brian McEniff and Tyrone's Brian Dooher, were both unavailable but sent submissions.

The meeting was planned months back and was not a reaction to the intense debate that has surrounded the sin bin experiment over recent weeks.

All parties were keeping tight-lipped about the discussions when contacted.

What seems certain is that sin binning in its present format will be changed.

Some managers were open to giving the experiment more time but with eight players sent off in the Laois/Kildare game last Sunday it appears a line was crossed.

Kelly said: "I would presume that the Football Task Force will be making some suggestions about alterations to the rule.

"There will probably be some tweaking all right but you're always going to have that with experiments and these type of things."

Kelly admitted that personally he's not too disappointed with the recent spate of claims and counter claims about the merits of the radical sin-bin rule.

He believes it's good to talk and that in the long term the game can still reap the benefit.

"In many ways it's a great thing that so many people have come out and sparked dicsussion and debate about the sin bin," he added.

"It's got people talking and they've highlighted certain problems with the game which is a good thing.

"One thing that all this has focused attention on is the fouling in the game.

"That's something that everyone wishes to see taken out of football.

"It's just a question of finding the best mechanism to keep fouls down."

Several changes to the rule have already been mooted such as not yellow carding a player until his second 'tick' and sin binning offenders on the second yellow card.

Unfortunately, it's almost certain that Ulster teams will now not get to try out the sin bin experiment in its present format.

Ulster chiefs voted not to introduce it for the McKenna Cup despite getting the green light in Leinster, Munster and Connacht.

Kelly said: "That's a pity for Ulster's sake because I would have liked to see what their perception of the rule was.

"I felt it would have been in their best interest to take part in the experiments but obviously they chose not to.

"They came to the decision that they didn't want to alter their rules. In fairness to them I'm sure they'll adapt very quickly to the new rules in the National League.

"I don't envisage there being a huge period of getting to grips with the rules for the Ulster teams."

Hurling will continue its own experiment with the new rules in the various warm up competitions this weekend.

Kelly is not of the belief that the sin-bin will have the same major impact on hurling as it has had on football.

The Kerry man added: "There is not the same holding onto the ball for as long in hurling as there is in football so I can't see as many yellow cards.

"It'll be interesting to see what the hurlers think of it but I don't expect it'll have the same potential for debate as it has had in football."

CAPTION(S):

TALKING POINT: Sean Kelly; OFF: Fergan Byron was one of eight players sent to the sin-bin on Sunday