GPA threaten to go to war with GAA

THE 2009 hurling and football championships may not be completed if the Gaelic Players Association’s (GPA’S) dispute with the GAA worsens, it emerged last night.

GPA members are to refuse to co-operate with interviews for TV3 and RTÉ, one of the main sponsors of the All-Ireland hurling championship, for the Munster hurling and Leinster football finals.

However this latest stage in the GPA’s battle for recognition by the GAA may be dwarfed by further developments if the growing militancy among members of the players’ body escalates.

Last night a GPA source said frustration with the GAA hierarchy had led to more and more of their members wanting to go “all out”, with withdrawal of services ahead of championship games a real possibility if Croke Park did not recognise the players’ body. The source went on to add that the public would be surprised at the level of anger among members of the GPA with the GAA’s reluctance to recognise the players’ organisation.

The Association issued a statement on the matter last night.

“In the absence of a formal recognition agreement between the GAA and the Gaelic Players Association, the GPA is proceeding with plans to address the needs of players and the players’ association over the coming months. These plans, which the GPA believes are fair and reasonable, will include the assertion of player rights in the area of the GAA’s commercial sponsorship and contracted broadcast partnerships.

“The GPA will commence this campaign by asserting player rights at the Leinster SFC final and the Munster SHC final on July 12. Players from the four squads involved will not be available for sports programming on the relevant channels or any GAA sponsors promotional activity around these two fixtures.

“The GPA has requested the GAA to fund a series of enhanced player welfare programmes in the critical areas of employment, career development and health and wellbeing services.

“As players have chosen the GPA to represent their interests, it is only through the establishment of a meaningful official relationship with the attendant financial commitment that the GAA can meet its obligations to the inter-county players who do more than anybody to fuel its financial engine.’’