Violence in the GAA - Ambiguity on violence must end

Sport can bring out the best in people but, as anyone who has seen how out-of-control spectators, competitors or drug cheats can corrupt the most beautiful and honest endeavour will realise, it can show us at our very worst too.

Unacceptable aggression, personal abuse that would not be tolerated in any other sphere of life, physical or verbal attacks on officials and racist abuse or homophobic attacks have become so commonplace that they have almost lost their capacity to outrage. So critical has the situation become that the country’s leading sports organisation — the GAA — has for some years now run a campaign designed to promote respect amongst its players, especially its underage players. The focus of this programme is to develop players’ discipline, self-respect and the kind of respect for others that would, or at least should, preclude unacceptable behaviour. That such a programme was required points to a social and personal deficits that deserve careful consideration.

Anyone who has experienced the threat or bile of out-of-control spectators, especially the most extreme and vociferous parents at underage games, will understand the pressing need for such a scheme.