Munster Council clamp down on team analysts

The GAA’s Munster Council have clamped down on the operations of team analysts on All-Ireland match-days.

Provincial chief executive Simon Moroney wrote to the six counties laying out new protocols for videoing games which are broadcast this summer.

No counties are permitted to record the matches but have been told they will be provided with a DVD of it by RTÉ afterwards. Analysts have also been prohibited from press boxes while they have also been banned from producing their own “live feed”, which permits analysts to scrutinise the action in real time.

Moroney writes: “While technically possible to provide a cabled ‘live feed’ in some locations within certain stadia it raises serious health and safety issues viz a viz the protection of both the patrons and indeed the cable itself en route and the potential disruption if technical failure or other issues arise. There would also be a cost factor falling on the counties requiring same. This option is not therefore permitted.” The Munster Council have no issue with counties coming to an arrangement with RTÉ to obtain live feed by connecting directly to the RTÉ outside broadcast truck “and transmitting the data/feed to the analysts in the stadium via wireless communication to be provided by the counties”.

However, their preferred option is for counties to use the live video feed from the RTÉ website. “This feed should suffice. This can be done from the viewing area from either stand. A workbench will not be available but well positioned seats can be arranged once adequate notice is given.”

The restrictions are also likely to apply to the All-Ireland hurling quarter-finals in Thurles, semi-final replays and any qualifier matches in Munster.