Gaelic sports body under fire for refusing to host Liam Miller memorial game

The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) has come under fire for refusing to allow a tribute match for Liam Miller to be played at one of its stadiums.

The match will feature a number of the former Celtic, Hibs and Republic of Ireland midfielder’s team-mates, including Damien Duff, Ryan Giggs, Robbie Keane and Paul Scholes, with Roy Keane playing and coaching one team and Irish manager Martin O’neill taking charge of the other.

Organisers of the game, which will be used to raise funds for Miller’s family following his death from cancer earlier this year, had hoped to stage the match at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork. The 45,000-capacity stadium is home of Cork GAA but the Association is rigidly sticking to Rule 42, which prohibits GAA grounds from hosting non-gaa sports.

The match is now likely to take place at Turner’s Cross, home of Cork City FC, which has a capacity of only 7,000.

Cork-born Miller played Gaelic football in his youth and took part in matches at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. But in a statement, the GAA said: “The GAA is prohibited in rule from hosting games other than those under the control of the Association in its stadia and grounds. The Cork County Committee and Central Council have no discretion in this matter.”

Andy Reid, who won 29 caps for Republic of Ireland, wrote on Twitter: “Scandalous the GAA wouldn’t allow the use of Páirc Uí Chaoimh for the Liam Miller memorial match, Liam represented ireland from u15 all the way up to senior level and gave everything, shocking!!!”

The match is due to take place on 25 September.