Amateurism

[Baile Brigín 2]

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2025/09/19/gpa-chief-says-its-time-to-increase-player-grants-this-isnt-going-away-for-government/

Why should the government be paying any money to intercounty players?

So the GAA don't have to, thus maintaining the illusion of amateurism

Stick to the soccer, you're a dose.

Am I wrong?

[Baile Brigín 2]

The Government gave €10m to a Professional American "football" game and in effect nationalised the useless FAI, who arrogantly refused to appear before a Dáil Committee.

So that makes paying intercounty players a taxpayer liability right?

[ck]

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2025/09/19/gpa-chief-says-its-time-to-increase-player-grants-this-isnt-going-away-for-government/

Personally I am uncomfortable with players getting Gov grants (I'm not saying they don't deserve it) as all it achieves is to take away the excuses for GAA players to get the life squeezed out of them even further by managers. I'd be more content if the lower counties got it but the bigger counties didn't as the big counties get all of the sponsorship anyway.

Why should the government be paying any money to intercounty players?

So the GAA don't have to, thus maintaining the illusion of amateurism

Stick to the soccer, you're a dose.

Am I wrong?

Personally I am uncomfortable with players getting Gov grants (I'm not saying they don't deserve it) as all it achieves is to take away the excuses for GAA players to get the life squeezed out of them even further by managers. I'd be more content if the lower counties got it but the bigger counties didn't as the big counties get all of the sponsorship anyway.

[Baile Brigín 2]

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2025/09/19/gpa-chief-says-its-time-to-increase-player-grants-this-isnt-going-away-for-government/

Personally I am uncomfortable with players getting Gov grants (I'm not saying they don't deserve it) as all it achieves is to take away the excuses for GAA players to get the life squeezed out of them even further by managers. I'd be more content if the lower counties got it but the bigger counties didn't as the big counties get all of the sponsorship anyway.

Why should the government be paying any money to intercounty players?

So the GAA don't have to, thus maintaining the illusion of amateurism

Stick to the soccer, you're a dose.

Am I wrong?

Personally I am uncomfortable with players getting Gov grants (I'm not saying they don't deserve it) as all it achieves is to take away the excuses for GAA players to get the life squeezed out of them even further by managers. I'd be more content if the lower counties got it but the bigger counties didn't as the big counties get all of the sponsorship anyway.

Why do they deserve a taxpayer grant and who do other sports not?

[rodney trotter]

Punishment the successful and bail out the worse than useless FAI??

Hardy punishing. Counties are happy to throw around big money to journeymen managers, but it's an issue to get a grant from the Gaa for the players?

[twohands!!!]

https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-41792291.html

Omission risk for counties that don't comply with proposed certification programme

The motion recommending the licensing system outlines that to participate in the leagues and championships the counties "shall meet the certification requirements determined by Central Council annually".
Thu, 12 Feb, 2026 - 10:32
John Fogarty

Counties risk omission from the National Leagues and All-Ireland championships if they don't comply with the proposed inter-county certification programme.
Although the sanctions for not doing so are not confirmed and would likely include withdrawal of home advantage and fines, it is envisaged that penalties would go as far as removal from competitions.
The motion recommending the licensing system outlines that to participate in the leagues and championships the counties "shall meet the certification requirements determined by Central Council annually".
It also calls for the establishment of an oversight body that shall agree the minimum standards of the certification programme relating to areas such as player welfare and financial governance.
If successful, mandatory training for inter-county managers is anticipated along with spending caps, contact hours and closed season adherence and a maximum squad size.
The amateur status review committee also propose the rewording of the amateur status rule. Part of it currently reads: "A player, team, official or member shall not contract itself/themselves to any agent other than those officially approved by Central Council. Expenses paid to all officials, players, and members shall not exceed the standard rates laid down by the Central Council."
As well as acknowledging players' endorsements, the proposed alteration pertains to expenses: "Expense payments to officials, players and members are permitted only to the extent that they do not generate an income tax liability in the relevant jurisdiction. Expense payments made by Association units (or individuals on their behalf) shall not exceed the standard rates laid down by the Central Council."
The certification programme and amateur status rule motions are among 25 to be debated at the GAA's Annual Congress in Croke Park on February 28.

No surprise here but pretty clear that there will be a serious change coming for counties in terms of payments to members of back-room teams and probably to a lesser extent players. I would imagine there will be far more transparency and accountability in terms of every single cent spent on inter-county teams once these rules come in. This is all driven by the issues with Revenue (the fact that the propsed new rule specifically mentions tax liability is a dead giveaway). From what I've heard the attitude in Croke Park is that they want everything in compliance for the Revenue Comissioners and all other financial laws going forward. Any county caught flouting these rules is likely to be in for a severe kicking in terms of punishments.

A friend I was talking to who would have a lot of GAA connections is convinced once the rules are in place that a lot of those involved in the backroom of intercounty teams are likely to be "randomly" selected for audits and his opinion is that some high profile folk getting caught and punished is inevitable. Once this new system is up-and-running at intercounty, I would expect it to be a matter of time before similar structures are applied to clubs down the line, with the key element being the money side of things.