Peter Canavan says if the GAA does introduce a television match official (TMO) to Gaelic games, it needs to ensure they do not replicate the frustration that VAR has caused in the Premier League.
RTÉ reported over the weekend that "a preliminary report on the use of a TMO" has been discussed by the GAA.
"The GAA would need to be very wary if they are thinking about bringing in the TMO," Canavan told RTÉ's League Sunday Show.
"You see the controversy that VAR has brought to the Premiership and they are doing it for the right reasons to get the correct decisions, but they have made a hames of the game in trying to do so, much to the frustration of players and supporters. The GAA would need to be very reluctant that we don’t go down that path.
"Referees have to maximise what is around them and the use of officials. At the minute the rule states that the linesman can't contact the referee during play, after a serious altercation has taken place until there is a break in play.
"Let’s change that to begin with. Umpires should be there to help referees."
A general view of the pens in the pocket of the referee before a Munster GAA Football Senior Championship Quarter-Final match between Clare and Cork at Cusack Park in Ennis, Clare. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
The Irish Examiner reported earlier this month that only 19 of 42 inter-county football referees passed recently held fitness tests.
"They're an easy target when it comes to ridicule and sarcasm," said Canavan.
"This is the last thing that referees needed at the very start of a new season. While it is disappointing that so many didn't pass the test, at least there is accountability there. It’s not a wink and a nod and let you away with it.
"It doesn’t look good, but it’s a message to the referees, if you are not up to that standard, you are not going to referee the games.
"We went through different games [from the weekend] and all the crucial decisions that were made, every referee was no more than 10 - 12 metres from it.
"Fitness is not a problem, it's the decision-making and the interpretation of the rules and the tackles that's a bigger issue than fitness.
"The referees would say, never mind at club level, let some of the current coaches and managers go through a rules test to see how well they do on it and they'll see how difficult it is."
