GPA and GAA in opposite corners over image rights

THE Gaelic Players Association and the GAA are on a collision course over the issue of image rights.

The GPA have threatened their members would refuse television interviews next year - a move which could affect GAA contract negotiations for broadcast rights.

Their stance is based on dissatisfaction that the GAA enter into third-party agreements on matters such as compilation DVDs without having recourse to players' rights.

Admitting he had been unaware of the move, GAA President Sean Kelly said last night the GPA was in danger of losing goodwill if it was seen to be actively pursuing a commercial agenda.

Nothing could be done to alter the Association's amateur ethos, he said.

Having only corresponded with RTÉ, TG4, BBC, UTV, Sky and Setanta in the last few days, GPA chairman Dessie Farrell said that they have yet to set out their policy 'in stone.' But, he expects it to be strongly endorsed.

"The players are talking among themselves and there would be anecdotal evidence to suggest that they will be quite comfortable with it until some acknowledgment comes their way with regard to these commercial matters.

"The fact that the GAA enter agreements and completely disregard the players is not really acceptable any longer,'' he said.

He alluded to the fact that in England, the PFA (Professional Footballers Association) receive a percentage of the television fees negotiated by the English FA.

Farrell said last year this amounted to a figure in the region of £17m (e24.6m). That was 'just' for the players' participation in live televised games - including interviews - and had nothing to do with commercial enterprises.

Asked if the GPA would be seeking a similar agreement with the GAA, Farrell responded by saying they had been advocating 'the co-operative model'.

"If the GAA work in tandem with the players there would be a much bigger pie and a much bigger slice for everyone involved - instead of this constant confrontation and argy-bargy between us,'' he said.

"We feel if we could sit down and develop a strategy in conjunction with ourselves and whatever third party, it would be a much more comfortable position for all involved, including potential sponsors or commercial parties.

"Obviously we'd like to sit down with the GAA. There is a Marketing Report due out very shortly from them and I have no doubt that will see these issues boxed off and addressed in some format.''

The reason for writing to the television stations, he said, was to alert them that there might be issues down the road - such as the 'disenfranchisement of players' - which they should know in advance of any negotiations they might have with the GAA.' "I don't think tv stations or sponsors would want to go down that road because the game is about the players,'' said Mr Farrell. "What would be more appropriate would be to encourage the GAA to 'grasp the nettle' and sort this thing out for once and for all. It's not as if we are trying to re-create the wheel here. This is what happens in sports codes the world over, where there is formal recognition and a value placed on the players' participation in the games at all levels.

"The blueprint is lain down there, it's nothing new. The GAA will be aware of it themselves. It's just a matter of trying to sort it out sooner rather than later and hopefully in a way that we will all be very comfortable with!''

Accepting that the issue of image rights was "a whole new ball game," Sean Kelly said it was obvious the GAA would be very concerned if players declined to be interviewed in the way they had always been.

"In an amateur sport there is an understanding that in promoting the game and broadcasting the game, there would be interviews given, be it television, radio or the newspapers, he said.

"If there was to be a stipulation that fees have to be paid, it would be hard to see how this would fit in with an amateur game.''

When asked if he suspected the GPA would seek a share-out of television fees, Mr Kelly said: "this is one of the points that is difficult for us when we are trying to come to an understanding with the GPA. They really need to set out their agenda and get it passed by their members so that everybody understands where they are and the GAA then could talk to them meaningfully.

"If the agenda keeps changing and it becomes more and more commercial, it's going to make a lot of people who are anxious to see us reach an accommodation with the GPA very dubious about the value of doing it - without everything being on the table, and agreed to, where their agenda is concerned. As soon as we have our Marketing Report published, we would be in a position to sit down and discuss with the GPA, and whoever else, the various issues they would be recommending.

"One of the recommendations will be that there should be some discussion with players regarding these matters. At the same time, the stipulation has to be there that we are amateurs and it can't be changed either by stealth or officially doing so!''