GPA to discuss GAA report on Allianz sponsorship

The GAA's Management Committee last month endorsed a recommendation by the association's ethics and integrity commission that the relationship with Allianz should be maintained

The GAA’s rules advisory committee are currently assessing proposals from nine counties calling for the association to ends its relationship with Allianz. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

The national executive of the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) are to discuss the GAA’s ethics and integrity commission’s report of the association’s relationship with Allianz.

Last month, the GAA’s Management Committee endorsed the findings of the review and agreed that its sponsorship of the National Leagues and associate backing of the All-Ireland senior football championship be maintained.

Last July, a report by the United Nations’s special rapporteur Francesca Albanese claimed Allianz was financially benefitting from the genocide in Gaza via Israeli war bonds.

The ethics and integrity commission’s document, which is expected to be published, highlighted that Allianz PLC has no involvement with the Israeli Defence Forces or corporate entities.

In 2024, the GPA approached the GAA about publicly calling for action to end the suffering in Gaza. A statement in May of that year read: “The GAA and the GPA share the deep concerns expressed by many of our members about the ongoing humanitarian crisis and escalating violence in Gaza.

“We support the Irish Government and International Community's calls for an immediate and sustained ceasefire, which will allow aid to reach Gaza and for all hostages to be released. We will be donating to the Irish Red Cross to support relief work in Gaza.” 

Meanwhile, Westmeath clubs had indicated opposition to the GAA’s association with Allianz at their annual convention last month.

Ballynacargy’s motion had support from all clubs before outgoing county chairman Frank Mescall said the ethics and integrity commission’s review should be respected. “It is not for county convention. Maybe for a county committee to decide? The process was begun a number of months ago, referred to an ethics and integrity commission. Their work is still ongoing. I think we should leave it to them and it will come before Congress in 2026.” 

Nine other counties have called for the GAA to end its relationship with Allianz in the wake of the UN report’s findings – Antrim, Armagh, Derry, Down, Fermanagh, Leitrim, Offaly, Roscommon and Tyrone.

The GAA’s rules advisory committee are currently assessing those proposals to see if they are in order and if so whether they are matters for Congress in February or Central Council.

Similar motions in Dublin (Good Counsel Liffey Gaels) and Tipperary (Burgess) were passed by clubs but ruled out of order. Tipperary took advice from Croke Park before they removed it from the clár of their convention last month, while it was deemed Good Counsel Liffey Gaels’s proposal was not submitted in time.