Payments would be damaging
WATERFORD star Austin Gleeson has come out strongly against a proposal to introduce pay-for-play at inter-county level in the coming years.
Details emerged last week of a report commissioned by recently departed GAA president Aogan O Fearghail – Towards 2034 – the 150th Anniversary of the GAA – which floated the idea of an allowance for county players.
The report claimed that players would “retain their existing amateur status but have their value to the Association, and their enormous commitment to their sport, recognised by a defined and agreed allowance”.
But 2016 Hurler of the Year Gleeson insisted: “I don’t think at all it should happen. The reason everyone loves hurling is it’s amateurs playing an amateur sport.
“Monday morning going into work after playing 70 minutes of a Championship game the day before.
“It would take away from the love of the game. If you’re paid, you could go training and wander around because ‘it doesn’t matter, I’m getting paid anyway’.
“Every team gets their expenses. There are [Waterford] lads up in Dublin who get their expenses and everything is put in place food-wise after training. They get their Championship gear, you get free physio if you need it.
“There are doctors there if you need, there are always little allowances there for you.”