O’Neill says GAA must protect players from verbal abuse

GAA president Liam O’Neill, in his address to annual congress, said that the association had a responsibility to protect players from verbal provocation and racist abuse.

“Taunting of players – or ‘sledging’ – is not acceptable. In its mildest form it is unsporting. It is bad manners and at its worst . . . it is behaviour unbecoming a sportsperson of any age. We all have a duty to eradicate it.

“We are fortunate in this country to have become a multi-cultural society. This diversity enriches our country and enriches our games.

“Unfortunately, in the past year a small number of incidents of racial abuse have been reported. This is a source of huge regret to me.

“We want to play our part in making modern Ireland a welcoming and inclusive place for those who wish to live here. We will not tolerate racial abuse. Our rules must reflect that.”

He also visited the recently topical issue of spitting at opponents in matches, describing it as “a disgusting habit”.

“If a player does it once he deserves a severe punishment. If he does it twice, he deserves to be charged with bringing the association into disrepute.”

O’Neill also questioned the role of the national under-14 Féile competitions.

“The Féile na nGael Hurling festival which started in 1971 during the Presidency of Séamus Ó Riain has been with us now for 42 years . . . It is a great concept that is still sound.

“However, over the last number of years Féile na nGael and its football counterpart, Féile Peile na nÓg, have become far too competitive and too costly for families and clubs.

“I have asked the new Féile Committee to look at the relevance of Féile in the modern world and to see whether in some cases having the same clubs compete year after year is a good idea.

“I have asked them to look at the behaviour of our mentors, to see how they interact with players and to report back whether this is positive or negative.

“I have asked them to look too at the idea of expanding the Féile concept.

“I wonder how justifiable it is that on a given weekend the chosen few get to travel and play in hurling and football competitions at under-14 level.

"Surely it would be better to have a super Féile day where every boy and girl who plays hurling and camogie and handball and football could have a competition which valued them equally .
MAIN MOTIONS (motions require a two-thirds majority to be accepted)
FRC (applicable to football only)
4: Introduction of black cards, sending off footballers guilty of certain cynical fouls, but allowing their replacement up to a maximum of three. (Football Review Committee)
Accepted 71%-29%
16 and 17: Introduction of a 30-metre penalty for any interference with or delaying an opposition free. (Football Review Committee)
Insufficient majority 54%-46%
18: Re-definition of the tackle in football. (Football Review Committee)
Accepted 72%-28%
19: Introduction of an advantage rule, allowing a referee five seconds before awarding a free. (Football Review Committee)
Accepted 93%-7%
20: Introduction of the mark for catching kick-outs at least 45 metres from goal.
Insufficient majority 65%-35%
21: Clean pick-up with the hand to be allowed.
Rejected 47%-53%
24: Introduction of a public
clock in all grounds for championship matches with siren to signal end of matches.
Accepted 69%-31%
25: Extending all adult football matches to 70 minutes. (Football Review Committee)
Rejected 16%-84%

Other matters
1: New hurling championship structure, reducing counties in MacCarthy Cup and introducing a new qualifying group in Leinster. (Central Council)
Accepted 82%-18%
3: To make available GAA grounds to facilitate Ireland hosting the Rugby World Cup in 2023 or 2027. (Central Council)
Accepted 97%-3%
27: To allow additional branding on jerseys. (Rules Advisory Committee)
Accepted 91%-9%
49: Team selections to be given to the director general for release to media four days before matches. (Rules Advisory Committee)
Rejected 8%-92%
52: The score detection system Hawk-Eye to be trialled in Croke Park. (Rules Advisory Committee)
Accepted 86%-14%
53: Re-structuring the championship draw to prevent defeated provincial finalists having to play six days later. (National Fixtures' Planning Committee/Central Council)
Accepted 93%-7%
54: Broad declaration of anti-sectarian and anti-racist principles. (Inclusion and Integration Committee/ Maastricht Gaels, Europe)
Accepted 90%-10%
60: Hurlers to remove helmets during the national anthem. (Loughmore-Castleiney, Tipperary)
Accepted 82%-18%
69/70: Not allowing All-Ireland champions of the past three years, defeated on their first outing, to enter the qualifiers. (St Anne's, Wexford) Withdrawn
71: Bringing All-Ireland finals forward to second Sunday in September and two weeks previous. (Nemo Rangers
and St Nick's, Cork)
Rejected 26%-74%