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Foreign and Defense Minister Simon Coveney admits he is concerned about the GAA ahead of the resumption of inter-county action this weekend.
Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan counties will move to level 4 of the government’s ‘Living with Covid’ restriction plan at midnight.
The GAA had already made the decision to suspend club games for the foreseeable future last week after a strong response on social media to videos of teams celebrating after claiming county titles.
However, these games cannot now take place, even if the association wanted to play them.
“We have concerns regarding sports matches,” the minister told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland.
“That is why we have removed the exemption that would allow the club championships to continue. Now they cannot continue.
“The only sporting events that we are going to see are effectively high-level inter-county closed-door sports, managed very carefully by the sports organizations that are responsible for that.”
“That is the decision we have made for now.”
The Allianz League is scheduled to return this weekend, although it has not been without its problems.
Fermanagh requested a postponement of his four-point relegation against Clare this weekend after 17 players in his squad were affected by the virus, but Croke Park rejected his request yesterday.
Ireland saw a record number of 1,095 cases yesterday, prompting Westmeath talisman John Heslin to question the wisdom of the games.
“At what stage does the ‘much needed intercountry return in these bleak days’ comment end? He asked on Twitter.
“I am concerned from a health and wellness perspective, both individually and collectively, for those who contribute to the inter-county season.”
At what point does the much-needed “Inter-county return in these dark days” comment end?
I am concerned from a health and wellness perspective, both individually and collectively, for those who contribute to the inter-county season. #GAA https://t.co/XfSer3hIOP– John Heslin (@ jheslin14) October 14, 2020
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