LAST UPDATE | 5 Jan 2021
THE GAA HAVE taken the decision that no collective training for inter-county teams will be permitted for at least the remainder of the month of January, in a reaction to the worsening Covid-19 crisis.
Director-General Tom Ryan informed all county board secretaries this morning of the decision, citing ‘the current exceptional rise in infection rates of Covid-19 and the increased risk of community transmission’.
GAA inter-county training was due to be green-lighted from 15 January. County boards have also been reminded that club and county gyms must stay closed until further notice. Club training and games are also not currently allowed under the Government regulations.
Out door gatherings on GAA property are not permitted, the only exception to this is for walkways, which may stay open for use by the community with social distancing in place.
Any breaches will be dealt with under Rule 7.2 (e) – ‘Misconduct considered to have discredited the Association’. The potential penalties under that rule are a minimum 8-week suspension for a member or a team/unit while further sanctions may also be considered.
The GAA intends to review the current situation and provide further advice on 31 January when the current Level 5 restrictions in the Republic of Ireland are in place until.
“I fully appreciate the frustrations these additional restrictions may place on our inter-county players and management teams,” wrote Ryan.
“However, the safety of everyone in the game and indeed in the broader community has to be our primary focus. It has never been more important for our players, coaches and officials to follow both the Government guidelines and our own provisions around training.
“I thank you for all you have done in this context to date and ask again for your co-operation and understanding as we battle to defeat the virus and finally return to
normality.”
GAA Is not an elite sport.
All contact sports should be banned in the present climate.
@David Connell: it’s an elite sport now because it suits them to call it that so they can get their tv revenue yet when players were looking to get what was owed to them through tv revenue and gate receipts the gas didn’t want to know about it because it’s an amateur organisation
what a farce
they are an absolute disgrace and the mafia wouldn’t get a look in and i’m a staunch gaa man
@Gerard Martin: what club are you with Gerard? I’m sure it’s been in touch with HW for a few bob
@Gerard Martin: it’s possible to be amateur and elite. They’re not mutually exclusive.
@Gerard Martin: how or when were the players promised that they would receive a cut of the TV revenue from the GAA not (gas) you being so staunch I’m sure you could give us all the link for that mysterious TV revenue contract the players received or an article from media outlets outlining this factual bs
@David Connell: “Banned” is a bit of a strong word.
Allegedly
Don’t permit the Dubs to train in 2021. Even things up!
@T Dawg: won an all Ireland and didn’t move out of 3rd gear all championship pal, push their training back to next year so
@my name: Stay classy.
@T Dawg: they would still be miles ahead of most counties I’d say but hey what would an oul 6 of the best Dub/Oul Jackeen know except that seven of the finest is on the way rightly inside the oul Pale, blue from birth
@EnKy: doing nothing but telling the truth and you know it buddy
Your turning into klopp man? Haha
@Paully Kells: one can only hope. And a bit of Jim Gavin as well for good measure
Hardly a huge concession. GAA had their All Ireland so don’t care any more. When it comes to prepping for the next championship they’ll change their tune. They are putting all communities at risk.
@2thFairy: not at elite level they’re not
So will Waterford be back training behind bushes during lock down again?
I think Cork GAA missed the memo…