A thaw appears to be breaking out in the GAA-GPA dispute after both sides held “productive” talks today.
The parties have been at loggerheads for a number of weeks over player expenses, with the GAA only prepared to subvent a mileage rate of 65c for up to four training sessions/games per week. Anything beyond that is at the discretion of the relevant county board.
The GPA insisted that collective gatherings can fluctuate above and below four gatherings per week depending on the time of the season and that players shouldn’t be left out of pocket if required to travel more than four times a week.
GAA director general Tom Ryan argued that they “cannot continue to fund bad practice with regard to player welfare” by effectively sanctioning an excessive number of training sessions but both parties appear to be moving closer to a middle ground with a joint statement issued today saying: “The GAA and the players’ representative body, the GPA, met this morning to discuss the ongoing dispute regarding player expenses.
“The meeting was productive and a framework was put in place to try and reach a resolution. Both parties will re-engage under the terms of that framework over the course of the coming weeks.”
When the standoff first emerged, players declined to participate in media interviews on matchdays and were backed by a number of managers. The level of protest was since escalated to players engaging in no media activity whatsoever, forcing the cancellation of various Championship launches as the GAA’s flagship competitions get underway this weekend.
There have been notable exceptions, however, with 2020 Hurler of the Year Gearoid Hegarty taking part in a media event for Bord Gáis Energy, sponsors of the hurling Championship, earlier this week.
The Limerick star insisted that he was not “breaking ranks” and said: “I'm going to honour the contract that I've signed. In saying that, I think, first of all we're very lucky down in Limerick, we're being looked after.
“We are getting paid our expenses, we are getting looked after down here. We're lucky that we are getting looked after.
“I do think it's a kind of a rough kind of situation where the GAA and GPA are at at the moment. I do think it needs to be resolved first of all because there is a bit of furore over it as to where it's going.”
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