O’Neill: We must rid GAA of ‘white line fever’

GAA president Liam O’Neill has served notice of his intention to clean up the association’s image by ridding the sidelines of virtually all non-playing personnel.

Touchline altercations have been an almost permanent stain on the GAA in recent years with images and reports of violent confrontations emanating from all levels, in all codes and from allcorners of the island.

O’Neill was present at the latest example last Sunday when St Eunan’s joint coach Eamon O’Boyle was left dazed after a shove to the ground which prompted a number of other scuffles all along the side of the pitch during the game against Crossmaglen Rangers. The Laois man counted atotal of 45 people standing along the touchline or in the tunnel at another point during the Ulster SFC Club Championship fixture at the Athletic Grounds. He insisted yesterday that enough was enough.