Croke Park can now accommodate 80,000 spectators

Current GAA rules do not allow venues to be used for non-gaelic sports but the historic Rule 42 is scheduled to be debated at the annual congress.

Speaking in his annual report, Murphy claims that the rule's deletion would be against the interests of the GAA.

"Unless there is a clear case to change then there are definite reasons not to change," said Murphy.

Murphy said the GAA should not swayed by outside pressure.

A recent nationwide opinion poll indicated 80 per cent support for opening the Dublin GAA stadium to soccer and rugby internationals but Murphy remains unimpressed.

"At national level there is continuing pressure for us to be magnanimous in relation to the use of Croke Park but it appears that the association's interest has not been recognised in this debate."

Murphy also hinted that he was unhappy at the recent funding assurances given by the Irish government for the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road.

"We recently witnessed that a new stadium is to be built in Dublin with a huge input of public funds but there was no such support evident when we were promised funding."

The development of a national stadium at Lansdowne Road, recently approved by the Irish government, is scheduled to take place between 2006 and 2008.

During the building work, the Football Association of Ireland and the Irish Rugby Union would need an alternative venue for internationals.

If Croke remained closed off, and Irish football and rugby internationals were staged in Britain instead, the GAA could come out badly in public relations terms.