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14 Oct 2025
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14 Oct 2025
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Finn Harps manager Kevin McHugh. Photo: Matthew Harvey
Kevin McHugh has called on the League of Ireland to intervene and improve the standard of refereeing across the league.
The Finn Harps manager has said that there appears to be an ‘acceptance of poor decisions’,
The Killea man was speaking after his side drew 1-1 with Kerry FC on Monday night at Finn Park, with the visitors’ scoring their goal from a Luke Palmer penalty late in the first half.
“Years ago, somebody would have picked up the phone if there was a really bad penalty and it cost you points,” McHugh said. “Now, they just give decisions and move on.
“You can't even go and talk to them afterwards.
“It just seems to be a closed shop. So I feel that's something that has to be addressed and done in the next season.”
Harps felt as if they might have had at least one penalty themselves, but weren’t awarded after Max Hutchison and Idir Zerrouk went down in the area.
McHugh was frustrated with the awarding of the penalty to Kerry in the latter moments of the first half when Adam McDaid was penalised for what Darragh White, the referee, deemed a foul on Oran Crowe.
McHugh said: “I thought we shaded the first half and then the penalty just goes against you.
“I’m not even sure it was. It looked like a penalty when you see it back. Adam actually doesn't move. It looks like a man's moved into Adam and he's kind of dropped himself.
“Those are the kind of decisions… I think it's five penalties in the last four games against us. When you watch them all back, I don't think there's any one of them a penalty.
Read next: Shaunie Bradley keen to 'kick on' after bagging first Finn Harps goal
“I know I'm going to say that obviously anyway, but it's just some of the decisions at the moment. There just seems to be an acceptance of poor decisions from the refereeing department and the FAI.
“I just feel something needs to be done.”
Harps are back at home on Friday evening when they take on William O’Connor’s UCD at Finn Park (kick-off 7.45pm).
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