Mayo football legend Alan Dillon has slammed the GAA’s decision to try and rip off loyal fans with the choices of matches on pay-per-view and said it is "time for GAAGO to be sent to the sidelines."
The GAA were charging €12 per game to watch some top class ties over the weekend, while leaving less attractive games on free-to-air.
A Fine Gael TD for Mayo, Mr Dillon who is also a former Mayo captain and two-time GAA All Star, has joined the public outcry.
READ MORE - 'The GAA has failed hurling' - Donal Óg Cusack makes impassioned speech on GAAGO on RTE's Sunday Game
He has become the most high-profile sports star to call for intercounty matches to be returned to domestic TV, and for the GAA’s five-year deal with the online platform to be scrapped.
He said: "Over the last two weekends, two Munster hurling matches, both high quality games, were broadcast live only on GAAGO. People were forced to pay for it or miss out.
"This is extremely unfair and goes against the ethos of the GAA as an inclusive, volunteer-led and community-based organisation.
"What was supposed to be a means of connecting the Irish diaspora with their local teams is fast becoming an exclusive and expensive platform which disproportionately impacts older viewers.
"Over the last few days, we have heard from Age Action about how GAAGO is acting as an invisible barrier to older people accessing the matches they have enjoyed for years.
"When games are behind a paywall – they not only exclude people financially, they exclude people technologically.
"We are only in the first year of the five-year deal which is due to last until 2027 and I believe it needs to be revisited at the next GAA congress and scrapped. That proposal must be brought forward to GAA HQ."
GAAGO was launched in 2014 as an online streaming service to allow audience and Irish diaspora worldwide watch live gaelic football and hurling.
Mr Dillon added: "The GAA has already handed over the months of August and September to rugby and soccer with the new shorter inter county championship format.
"And now, to watch GAA matches is becoming an even harder experience for supporters and volunteers who want to watch games at home.
"What kind of promotion of our national games is this? There is digital inequality across the country.
"Without adequate broadband and streaming services, we are alienating many viewers and supporters of our national games.
"We are also in the midst of a cost of living crisis and paying €12 per game is extreme compared to the prices charged for attending games.
"There are also issues for the elderly in downloading the app on devices, in turn creating problems for them in accessing the website and live GAA games.
"These challenges are in direct comparison to other services previously used like Sky which was more accessible on mainstream TV and digital services.
"While we have a great product, we do not need to make our supporters suffer.
"People across the country simply want to turn on their TV and watch the game.
"It’s time to make that happen."
READ NEXT:
- 'We didn't lose Gareth, Christina Anderson took him' - family of man stabbed going to work tell of grief
- GAA player says kids 'as young as 11 or 12' boozing in county final celebrations - amid stark alcohol warnings
- Sligo grandmother Angela Canavan 'knew her killer and let him into her house' as garda probe ramps up
- Bob Geldof says he wouldn't present Late Late Show - even if he was paid €1 million
- The State set to oppose Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch's bid to claw back €400,000 Regency Trial legal fees
Get news updates direct to your inbox by signing up to our daily newsletter here
