Saval motion calls for Down exit from Allianz backed National leagues

Down club Saval have put forward a motion for the county to remove its football and hurling teams from the National Leagues in protest at Allianz’s continued sponsorship of the competitions.

Down club Saval have put forward a motion for the county to remove its football and hurling teams from the National Leagues in protest at Allianz’s continued sponsorship of the competitions.

“The Irish News” have reported the proposal is due to be heard at the county board’s monthly meeting in Newcastle on January 15 and seeks “the withdrawal from all inter-county fixtures in competitions that bear Allianz as lead sponsor”.

Last month, the GAA’s Management Committee voted to retain Allianz as the league sponsors following a review by its ethics and integrity commission.

That probe was prompted by a UN-commissioned report which last July found that Allianz were one of a number of companies financially linked to Israeli war bonds and the genocide in Gaza.

The newspaper report says Saval “vehemently disagrees” with the findings of the ethics and integrity commission. “(Saval) believe it to be completely at odds with the views of the members of our Association and indeed the very ethos of the GAA.”

At a special online Central Council meeting before Christmas where delegates were briefed on the report, the GAA committed to releasing the body’s full review. It stresses that Allianz PLC has no connection “with the IDF or corporate entities involved in the war in Gaza.” 

However, it did point out “any such relationship is with a ‘sibling or cousin company’” of Allianz and advises that the GAA “encourage Allianz PLC to use its influence to encourage other companies within the group to act in accordance with Irish, European and International Law.” 

Down were among nine counties who voted for the GAA to end its commercial relationship with Allianz, while the clubs in Westmeath had chosen to do the same. Two other counties, Dublin and Tipperary, were due to debate a similar motion but for technical reasons it was ruled out of order.

Down’s leading forward Pat Havern hails from Saval and the county are strongly expected to make a quick return to Division 2. They begin their Division 3 campaign at home to Clare on Saturday, January 24 on the same day their hurlers travel to Carlow in Division 1B.

Meanwhile, Donegal’s Ulster SFC quarter-final against Down on April 26 will be staged at Letterkenny’s O’Donnell Park as Ballybofey’s MacCumhaill Park continues to undergo reconstruction.

It is the first time in 75 years that O’Donnell Park has hosted an Ulster senior inter-county championship football game when Donegal drew with Antrim.