Loss of earnings no longer covered by GAA insurance

THERE’S GROWING concerns as the GAA insurance scheme no longer covers loss of earnings from injuries. Now clubs believe that changes to the injury fund will lead to major problems as details have only now come to their attention as they prepare for a 2021 season whenever restrictions allow.

Many clubs have expressed concern at players potentially walking away from the GAA over the absence of a loss of wages scheme in the event of an injury received during the course of a game.

Right now many clubs believe that the GAA should have a rethink on their latest policy as they suggest the lack of injury cover for wages could have a serious impact on their player numbers.

While the scheme will still pay out for injuries, the lack of cover for the loss of wages - given a lengthy injury of whatever sort - is the crucial sticking point, and an area that the GAA needs to address.

It’s believed that the latest decision is only a pause and not a permanent change and is being kept under review.

The matter was raised at a meeting held prior to Congress and once again at Congress itself it was also explained that the scheme is actually a fund rather than insurance and can only pay out what it takes in.

Now the GAA has said that the fund is running a deficit which is something that cannot continue.

The GAA has stressed that it must prioritise what it can, with the decision being made to prioritise injuries now instead of all other outlays, including loss of earnings.

While the matter has been raised at Central Council level, it’s believed that the majority of counties have still to take the seriousness of the situation on board.

While the first inkling of this emerged only last December, it’s seemingly gone unnoticed with clubs.

It was only on receipt of further information in February that the loss of earnings cover really emerged.

While it is hoped to restore the loss of earnings at the end of 2021 and also bring in an enhanced scheme in due course, it’s what emerges to cover the current season that is of the utmost importance to clubs.

But all of this is dependent on the fund being in surplus, which has to be regarded as a big ‘if’ even at the best of times.

And the word ‘hopefully’ is constantly used whenever the issue arises, so there is no guarantee that it will be in that necessary healthy position for 2022.

While one understands the concerns about revenue and the losses Croke Park have incurred over the past year at this stage, clubs must be hugely concerned that players may have to opt out at the start of the season because loss of earnings isn’t covered in the event of an injury.

The players are the most important people in the Association, but while they want games they also want proper cover in the event of an unfortunate injury being picked up on the field of play.

The clubs need to be more forceful and the counties need to show a combined movement when it comes to Central Council to have the matter rectified in the interests of players.

This may have gone unnoticed with the majority of clubs given the fact that most committee meetings now take place on Zoom, while the normal field-related activities that would usually be taking place at this time of the year have all been put on hold.

This is coupled with the reality of it being so early in the season, with the majority of clubs only beginning to prepare for the new campaign in a limited capacity over the last period of quite worrying weeks.

This is by no means a small issue. Its importance should occupy many a club committee meeting over the coming weeks.

While they have been given some time, with the club season not expected to get up and running until September, it’s of such importance that clubs should be united on the issue and take it to County Board level for more detail.

Player welfare has to be at the heart of everything the GAA stands for.

Perhaps it’s an issue which the Club Players’ Association (CPA) should have interested themselves in before disbanding.

Now it has emerged that there is more importance attached to the club player than just fixtures.