GAA well geared to tackle fundraising scams

The GAA are better equipped to counter commercial scams off the back of successful county teams, according to head of media relations Alan Milton.

The Mayo County Board on Tuesday revealed people in both Ireland and the US had received phone-calls from an individual falsely purporting to represent them seeking fundraising.

Milton said Croke Park will act on behalf of counties in such matters should they need their assistance.

“We would be far more proactive nowadays and you simply have to protect the licence holders.

“As well as that, it’s just morally wrong to try and make a fast buck on a county board and players when they have nothing to do with their success.

“We would be vigilant about acting on behalf of the licence holders and those at county level would also fall under that. It wouldn’t be uncommon for us to issue solicitors letter to protect our licence agreements.

“These things naturally tend to happy around All-Ireland finals when people try to make a quick buck on the back of teams but that’s nothing that can go unchallenged.”

Milton doesn’t believe the issue has become a bigger one as the GAA has evolved: “Being in an All-Ireland in 2003 was just as big as it is now in 2013.”

However, he accepts the recession has made fraudulent behaviour more appealing.

He added: “People are more brand aware than they ever have been. Just because something is a certain colour or colours and has a logo doesn’t mean people will automatically associate it with a county. They would ask questions about whether items are official products. If something is contributing to a players fund they want to know the money is going there.”

Meanwhile, Galway have yet to receive their full All-Ireland final ticket allocation for Sunday week’s minor game with Waterford.

As Limerick prepare a case for the Disputes Resolution Authority concerning the Hawk-Eye error in the semi-final extra-time defeat to Galway, Tribe County officials confirmed yesterday they had only received the standard number of tickets issued to a non-competing county.

Pending the DRA’s decision, Galway should receive their total allocation early next week.