Malachy O'Rourke has appealed to referees to treat "everyone equally".

O'Rourke, whose Monaghan team open their Ulster SFC campaign against neighbours Cavan on Sunday, is demanding greater consistency from match officials amid fears that the strong counties don't get punished for the same offences as the so-called weaker counties do.

"If the rules are going to be applied, no matter what position teams are in the ranking, they should apply to everyone equally," the Fermanagh native told the Irish Sun.

"That is the most frustrating thing I would see. I would have felt before the black card that the rules of the game were grand, as long as it was refereed right, and that whatever an official saw, they acted upon it.

"But I still think it will come to a stage where you will see people getting black cards and getting sent-off in the early rounds of the championship involving games with some of the so-called lesser teams.

"And those same incidents will not be dealt with the equivalent card - be it black, yellow or red - when games get to Croke Park and the latter stages of the championships. Officials have to be very consistent and if it is a black card, then it is a black card for everyone."

O'Rourke maintains Down full back Benny McArdle's harsh dismissal in last month's Allianz League Division 2 final against Roscommon would never happen in a big championship game.

"Can you see someone being sent off in a high-profile game, an All-Ireland semi-final or final for that? Not a chance, in my book," he continued.

"There was a time when I felt that two referees would have made it easier but if all the officials are properly utilised, linesmen and umpires, then I don't think there is anything wrong with the rules.

"I don't think there is a need for the black card. If everyone did their job, the game would have been fine the way it was."

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