Whether or not you thought Joe Brolly's all out attack on Sean Cavanagh and Tyrone's cynical tactics were justified or not - personally I felt that he went over the top and thus diluted his genuine point of how this cynical fouling is very worryingly creeping in at all levels of the game - the fact is that most competitors will happily push the rules to the limit in order to secure victory. In my opinion, Sean Cavanagh knew that all he was risking was a yellow card and so it was a no brainer for him. Isn't the success measure of any tactic that it delivers a greater benefit than its cost. So instead of ranting, I would much prefer to see proper analysis of the issue, which for me would be how do the rules-makers increase the cost of deliberate fouling so that players are really forced in believing that the benefit will no longer be worth it.
Okay so next year we have the introduction of the black card which is definitely a step in the right direction. However whether or not the punishment will be enough remains to be seen. I'm uncomfortable with the notion that a player who mightn't typically last 70 minutes could take "one for the team" before being forced to depart, perhaps just a few minutes earlier than planned. Beyond the black card, I would love to see a rule change which would reward the team on the receiving end of a deliberate foul rather than solely punishing the aggressor. So how about this? Where a player is fouled and there was deemed to be no intent to fairly execute a tackle, the free should be progressed forward to the in-line position of the next defensive player; if the next defensive player is either the goalkeeper or last defender, then a penalty should be awarded.
My proposal is still not a silver bullet - in particular it doesn't necessarily deter deliberate fouling out the field in order to just slow down a game or halt momentum - but I feel it would greatly force any defender to really weight up the cost - his last involvement in the game would be the concession of free in a more advantageous position. The challenge with its implementation might come with the decision on how far to progress the free, or in other words, deciding who is the next defensive player. However, if referees are instructed to give the benefit of the doubt to the attacking team, and to use their linesmen and umpires as necessary, then it would serve as a further deterrent. The harsher the punishment, then the greater chance the rules have in curbing this 'foul at all cost' culture.
