Kick-out mark 50m penalty scrapped in favour of free

Central Council has voted overwhelmingly to reduce the penalty for a player impeding a kick-out mark from a 50-metre advancement to a free from where the offence has taken place.

The Football Review Committee's (FRC) proposal to amend the kick-out mark foul - interfering with a player who has four steps after taking the mark - passed by 39 votes to 1 after coming in for repeated criticism since its introduction.

It is understood the change will be implemented immediately, therefore in force for this weekend's All-Ireland preliminary football quarter-finals and Tailteann Cup semi-finals.

A number of inter-county managers have spoken out against the current rule. The issue came under the spotlight in Kerry's recent All-Ireland group game win over Cork, with Kingdom boss Jack O’Connor describing it as "ridiculous".

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