GAA review of Allianz commercial relationship expected before Christmas

Central Council delegates heard of a probe into a UN report’s claim that the insurance firm has considerable financial ties with the genocide in Gaza.

Roscommon became the fifth county after Offaly, Tyrone, Fermanagh and Down to pass a motion calling on the GAA to cut its commercial ties with the German firm. Pic: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

With less than eight weeks to the beginning of the National Leagues sponsored by Allianz, the GAA’s ethics and integrity committee’s review of the commercial relationship is expected before Christmas.

Central Council delegates were told their work into a UN report’s claim that the global insurance firm has financial ties with Israel and the genocide in Gaza is considerable. The body were commissioned to undertake the review in September. Two members have since recused themselves.

The news comes as Roscommon on Friday became the fifth county after Offaly, Tyrone, Fermanagh and Down to pass a motion calling on the GAA to cut its commercial ties with the German firm.

Meanwhile, it was also learned that another £130 million (€148m) of funding for a 30,000-capacity Casement Park that would require a redesign from the previous plans.

At present, £170m (€194m) is available for a revised venue, which would comprise 18,000 seats and 12,000 terrace. GAA officials hope that figure can be augmented by £55m (€62m) if inflation is considered. In 2011, the Stormont Executive committed £62.5m to the reconstruction of the Belfast venue, which would be over £93m now. The GAA’s own commitment of £15m would jump to £22m. It was also revealed a total of £10m will be required to complete remediation and dilapidation work.

Proposals from the amateur status review including a spending ceiling on inter-county teams were also backed to be discussed at Congress.

The body have called for a limit on the expenditure applying to non-mileage expenses such as payments for team management, transport, backroom team members and other sundries.

They propose a central management team comprise one manager and three coaches/selectors. Managers would also have to complete induction programmes.

Motions from the Hurling Development Committee (HDC) to disband the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finals from next year as well as incorporate a 30 metre free advancement for dissent was also endorsed to be debated at Congress in February.

Counties have been asked to discuss the possibility of reintroducing curtain-raisers for All-Ireland finals – as reported earlier this week, Munster GAA are calling on the minor grade at inter-county level to jump to U18.

While, there will be a review of the situation in Waterford where Ballygunner are due to have two teams contesting the senior hurling championship next season.

A recommendation by the rules advisory committee to prohibit two teams from lining out in the same grade was debated but delegates called for further consultation on the matter.

The GAA master fixtures calendar for 2026 was also signed off by Central Council and details of league fixtures will be announced in the coming days. The hurling preliminary quarter-finals are pencilled in for next year but will be removed should the HDC motion pass in February.