GPA’s Dessie Farrell: ‘Sinister’ edge creeping into GAA

Players chief Dessie Farrell claims Gaelic games have taken on a “sinister” edge in recent seasons.

The issue of sledging or verbal abuse during games was highlighted following a number of recent spiteful exchanges, most notably between Donegal and Tyrone players in their Ulster championship tie.

Gaelic Players Association head Farrell said there is a considerable problem with cynicism generally and pointed to a rising amount of “headlocks, pinching and biting” during breakdowns in play.

Dublin’s former All-Ireland winning minor and U21 manager said the issue isn’t widespread yet but may become so if not immediately addressed.

He was speaking at the launch of the GPA’s Fair Play campaign which will encourage and reward good on field behaviour among county players.

“It has become a little bit sinister over the last number of years,” said Farrell. “There’s a lot of anecdotal evidence out there as to what type of stuff has been said.

“There’s the verbal abuse but there’s also the unsavoury stuff that happens around the awarding of frees at the breakdown, that sort of brawling, pulling and dragging, grabbing each other around the throat, headlocks, pinching and biting.

“Then there’s the whole issue of diving and feigning. It’s not rampant within the game but 60% of players thought it was a concern for us.

“So it was prudent for us to try and take a bit of a sounding from players as to where this is at and what their views are on it.

“The overwhelming majority of players felt it was important for players to be taking a lead role in this.” Farrell said the aim is for cynicism to be wiped out almost completely by “self policing” players who look negatively on any instances that do occur.

“We need to very clearly draw that line in the stand so that this almost becomes a self policing exercise,” said Farrell.

“So that it doesn’t need sanctions and it doesn’t need penalties, that it actually becomes taboo to engage in this sort of activity.

“That players will actually say: ‘Did you really say that?’ or ‘did you really do that?’”