The rule makers must be vigilant

THE GAA has bowed to the inevitable in drawing up a set of guidelines governing payments to players by way of increased expenses, endorsements, holiday contributions and so on.

As everybody knew all along, the rules were being widely flouted. It was, in fact, very amusing to note that players would now be allowed to accept payment for interviews and articles in the media. Where, one wonders, have the GAA moguls been for the past 10 years or so?

What needs to be done now, however, is for the regulations which are now laid down to be honoured and enforced. This may be an easier thing to suggest than to actually put into effect, but the effort has to be made.

It now seems a long time since the Cork hurlers got into terrible trouble for wearing shorts with three stripes down the leg and when Kerry got into hot water over an advertisement for a washing machine. Nowadays, players seem to be like walking billboards, while the spectators who pay at the gate often can't make out the numbers on the jerseys.

Without attempting to deal with the ins and outs of paying players for playing the game, it has to be conceded that the new regulations in regard to payments would appear to be a sensible approach to the problem. Policing and enforcement are now vital unless we want to hear of players getting money directly for playing, which in turn would, surely, lead to players changing their allegiances when faced with offers of jobs and money which would be very hard to refuse.

What the GAA has made clear to all and sundry is that an open minded attitude is now being adopted to take account of modern trends. What it must also insist upon is that everyone, without exception, is bound by the new regulations and that anyone suspected of abusing them will be investigated and be brought to book. It does not appear to be clear at the moment about what punishments can, under rule, be handed out to those who break the guidelines. As far as I know at present, new rules will have to be introduced to cope with any problems which arise.

It is interesting to note that Nicky Brennan, a member of the committee which considered the whole matter and which drew up the regulations, retains his objections to the payment of players for playing the game. He, quite rightly, believes that the input of the thousands of voluntary people who make the GAA what it is would be gravely damaged if players were getting paid.

He also has fears about jealousies among players over selected "stars" creaming off money for endorsements and such, while they get nothing.

He hit a very important point here. The fact is that Gaelic games are team sports and every player in a team should be treated equally. If a "star" system develops it will, surely, be to the detriment of the team spirit. There is a case to be made that all payments for endorsements or from media interviews for so called "analysis" articles, should go into a team fund with everyone benefiting equally.

In this climate it is heartening to realise that the man who will take over the presidency of the GAA this weekend is one who has played the game at the highest level and who is well aware of the pressures which can be exerted on players. Joe McDonagh understands, better than most, how things have changed in the GAA in recent years and will be deeply conscious of the dangers which any professionalism could bring to the game in its wake.

We have all seen the mess which has attended the introduction of professionalism to "Rugby Union. Greed and avarice have crept in to such an extent that there is a widespread feeling that the game itself and its future here has been severely damaged.

It was depressing recently to talk to Willie John McBride and to realise how a great Irishman should feel so disillusioned with the game at the moment.

"The thing is that I was lucky to have played when I did," said McBride. "I don't believe that the players who are involved in the game today will ever get the same feeling of comradeship and pride that we felt when playing for Ireland. It all seems to be based on money, nowadays. Quite frankly I am very worried about the future of Irish rugby."

This is a deeply depressing statement, coming from a man who earned the respect and affection of everybody on this island. The GAA could go the same way. The problem here is that, while rugby is an international game, Gaelic football and hurling are not. The cancer which McBride detects in Irish rugby would spread much more rapidly and devastatingly in the GAA if this emphasis on pay far play were to creep in.

The only hope, therefore, will depend on the GAA itself making absolutely certain that its new regulations are honoured and that any attempt at any level to avoid or circumvent them, should be dealt with firmly and with determination.