We can't allow the abuse to continue - Hitting another player 'off-the-ball' is possibly the greatest act of cowardice in Gaelic football. Thankfully, we don't see much of this striking, elbowing and dangerous play these days; it hardly exists at inter-county level at all and the tolerance for it at club grades is dying away as each year passes. But before we get complacent about these matters, don't for a second think it is not out there. Go to any poorly organised challenge game or observe an incompetent referee doing a club league affair and if one of our 'off-the-ball' merchants is in the mood to inflict damage, plenty of opportunity will present. Nobody will see the cheap hits and worse, few will have the appetite to chase the perpetrator down. Ironically, players that engaged in this practice were often allowed boast of their prowess in the clubhouse as their latest victim sat in an A and E downtown. Specialists in this dark art, they built up reputations as hatchet men all over the county. How juvenile and how pathetic can adults get? It began to fade in the early 90s and coincided with the explosion in media interest in games at all levels. Once journalists and commentators found the courage to identify and go after the culprits, it transpired the offenders really were cowards after all - they did not have the guts to own up to their acts but continued to deny them until caught and punished. During my own playing career I had fingers broken, jaw dislocated, concussion twice, teeth damaged, pumping noses and some heavy hits as a result of 'off-the-ball' activities as defenders attempted to intimidate and remove me from the game. I imagine many others have longer lists. It went with the territory at the time - there was little point in complaining - referees, officials and to some degree, other players and spectators, expected you to get on with things and quit complaining. The list of incidents perpetrated above ended with only one attracting a suspension; appropriately, the infraction took place at inter county level and the three month ban that was dished out seemed appropriate enough until the fine print revealed it would be served during the off season. They were the times that we were in! Today, the association is bigger and better and there is a commitment to sorting out foul play. But our own members who very often hold high office can undermine the overall thrust my making representation on behalf of offenders. And sometimes our referees do not apply the rules they know they should and must apply. I really do not know why this is so but imagine it has something to do with our attitude to rules as a society. But there is a train coming down the track. Taunting, gesturing, verbal abuse and showboating are becoming part of the modern game and few seem to really care. Of course there will be a wringing of hands and statements and quotes noting the GAA's abhorrence but despite writing and commenting on this cottage industry over the past two years nothing has resulted. Except, naturally, I was criticised for drawing attention to it. I will make a prediction: if referees or those in charge of disciplinary matters, do not take a stance, the gesturing, goading and disgusting verbals players are indulging in will spread like a cancer to every grade of football in the country. It has taken root already but is not so advanced it cannot be removed. The high profile cases are the ones we all get to see and to tell the truth they demean the games. If a victim retaliated and flattened the offender it would be hard to blame him. What next? Spitting? Racial abuse? Is it with us already? I have no doubt these developments are borrowed from other sports and because they are tolerated they flourish. Have you noticed the use of the sly knee to the back to cause injury or to the leg to deaden it so a player cannot continue? And when I asked the question above concerning what might be next, I mentioned the terrible possibility of racial abuse being added to the list. This can never be allowed to pass go; it can never be allowed breath the oxygen some clowns might think appropriate. Ireland is a different country now and within ten years the GAA will play witness to the ethnic diversity we are presently enjoying. There is no doubt but Roscommon will field an outstanding player of Brazilian background and that Laois will tog a young minor of Polish origin. And who will wager Mayo's next All Ireland winning team will not feature one of our European cousins? I attended the 2007 Feile recently and had a particular interest in the Douglas Under 14s, the adopted club of my Sunday Game colleague Tony Davis. In their game against the local Roscommon Gaels, the Cork boys featured a marvellous midfielder who could do as he pleased throughout the match. He was simply that good. Tall, athletic and skilful he immediately caught the eye. And in a few short years this young boy will bump into a fellow Gael, at a disco, on a train or at a match and when his friend enquires: What county man are you?' his reply will be: 'I am from Sierra Leone originally!' I read recently that some inter county players are considered expert because of their ability to get into their opponents head by way of insult and worse; it is a highly prized skill it appears. The behaviour of some players in big championship games this season was a disgrace and they should be ashamed of themselves. I have anecdotal evidence of this type of behaviour being encouraged among county squads. A free taker puts a ball wide and is greeted immediately with a torrent of abuse, a goal opportunity is spurned and the opponent is in your face reminding you of your error and frailties. It really is a dreadful place we are in if this is true. The television pictures and the newspaper photographs of this taunting and goading are damning. Recently the Gaelic Players Association introduced the Fair Play Award and this is a step in the right direction. But is it enough? Could they and GAA officials and indeed match officials do more? The answer is obviously yes. Strongly worded statements, the application of rule and strong sanctions (forget application of minimum suspensions and give the maximum - why is it the GAA almost exclusively uses the lower range when applying sanction?) will do the trick. We must let all sides know this behaviour is simply not acceptable and winning is not everything. Allow me then to remind all referees out there we have a rule to deal with this latest piece of kit. Rule 5.17 (Football Playing Rules) states that: 'To threaten or to use abusive or provocative language or gestures to an opponent' is a cautionable offence (yellow card). Start flashing it at every opportunity and very soon the message will sink in. It only takes a consistent application for a couple of weeks and the cancer can be zapped. It might just be the medicine required to nip this in the bud. If a player gets an early yellow for taunting or abusing his opponent (or indeed his team-mate) the possibility of another stray yellow and thus a red, might make the management think twice about leaving our friend on the pitch. In applying the rules, I am certain referees will be doing the game a massive service, one we will all thank them for into the future. Kevin McStay is a GAA analyst on RTE's 'The Sunday Game' Tweet

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