16 ex-Dublin players sign letter praising current panel's protest against Allianz

Dr David Hickey proud of their decision not to promote league sponsor in interviews

Dublin players will not consent to being interviewed in front of Allianz signage. Pic: Daire Brennan/Sportsfile

Former Dublin footballer Dr David Hickey has given his “wholehearted support” to the senior footballers and hurlers’ decision to protest at Allianz’s continuing sponsorship of the National Leagues.

Hickey is one of 16 former Dublin footballers who have signed a letter to Ger Brennan and the current football squad heralding their stance. Among the other signatories are former managers Pat Gilroy and Mickey Whelan, Philly McMahon and Michael Darragh Macauley.

RTÉ reported on Monday that the players had taken the decision not to promote the global insurance company in their media activity around games. It is understood they won’t consent to being interviewed in front of Allianz signage.

Occasionally, players and managers are interviewed with a backdrop bearing sponsors’ logos. RTÉ’s Sunday highlights show is also called Allianz League Sunday.

The GAA’s management committee last month accepted its ethics and integrity commission’s recommendation not to sever links with Allianz.

The review was precipitated by a petition signed by 800 former and current players and led by Hickey calling for the GAA to end the commercial relationship. They were moved to do so following a report by UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese that claimed Allianz via a subsidiary was linked to funding the assault on Gaza.

In their opening Division 1 game in Croke Park on Saturday, Dublin’s footballers face Donegal live on TG4, while the following afternoon the hurlers meet Clare in Ennis in their first round Division 1B fixture.

The letter signed by the former Dublin footballers, which praises the current group’s “great moral and courageous protest”, reads: “This magnificent gesture will mark this team as special. We believe it will also define your team as much more than a group of footballers.

“It will remember you as a group of young men who dared challenge the status quo and use their prominence in Irish life to highlight the atrocities being committed in Gaza.

“You are a team of character and principles, traits that will win you the All-Ireland this year. We former footballers salute you and want you to know we are very proud of you – David Hickey, Bobby Doyle, Tommy Drumm, Alan Larkin, Philly McMahon, Paddy O’Reilly, Michael Hickey, Pat Gilroy, Michael Darragh Macauley, Mickey Whelan, Ian Robertston, Andy Roche, John Caffrey, Norman Bernard, John McCarthy and Kieran Duff.” 

Allianz are due to launch their sponsorship of the leagues on Thursday but no current player will be in attendance. They have insisted active inter-county footballers and hurlers will be involved in their promotional activities over the coming weeks.

The Gaelic Players Association informed members last week that they have made a request to the GAA that players are not put “in situations that could expose them to negative attention, undue pressure, or a perception of endorsing positions that they may not personally support.”