GPA plan finals publicity protest

The Gaelic Players Association is set to step up a campaign for official recognition by imploring a shut-out on publicity for the Leinster Senior Football final and Munster Hurling final.

In a statement released on Friday evening, the GPA confirmed that, with the lack of a formal agreement between two bodies, they are 'proceeding with plans to address the needs of players and the players’ association over the coming months'.

The GPA have revealed that players from the four squads involved 'will not be available for sports programming on the relevant channels or any GAA sponsors promotional activity around these two fixtures'.

However, they have assured the public that the protest will not impact the staging of the matches.

The body said: 'In no other aspect will the staging of the two finals be affected by the actions of the GPA and its members.

'The GPA has requested the GAA to fund a series of enhanced player welfare programmes in the critical areas of employment, career development and health and wellbeing services.

They added: 'As players have chosen the GPA to represent their interests, it is only through the establishment of a meaningful official relationship with the attendant financial commitment that the GAA can meet its obligations to the inter-county players who do more than anybody to fuel its financial engine.'