County boards will not distribute grants to players

The Central Council of the GAA has revealed that any grant money to be awarded to players will be done through a ‘centralised system’ rather than through the county boards.

The decision was made following ‘a concern expressed at various levels of the Association’.

Details of the centralised system will be submitted to the Ard Chomhairle of the GAA when they are finalised.

A number of changes to the playing rules were also submitted to Central Council, by Liam O’Neill – chairman of the Disciplinary Task Force. They include:

1. For a repeat cautionable infraction the player is sidelined for the remainder of the game and a substitute is permitted to take his place

2. For offences of Rough Play and Unsporting Behaviour, players to be directly sidelined for the remainder of the game and a substitute permitted to take his place.

3. For immediate Red Carding Offences, a player is sent off and no replacement is permitted (this to apply in instances where a player displays conscious or reckless disregard for the safety of others or behaves in a manner which is prejudicial to the good name of the Association).

The appointment of Paraic Duffy as Director General of the GAA was also unanimously approved.