BBC SPORT | N Ireland | GAA reject Euro 2008 call

The GAA have delivered a blunt message that they will resist pressure from the Irish Government to make an early decision on whether to open Croke Park to other sports.

Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern has been making strong overtures to the GAA over the past two months because of the need to secure stadia for Ireland's joint-bid with Scotland for Euro 2008.

In midweek, the Irish Government withdrew 38m Euro worth of funds that had been promised to the GAA to complete the re-development of Croke Park.

This was interpreted by some commentators as the government attempting to put further pressure on the GAA.

The Euro 2008 bid has to be formally presented to Uefa by 11 December when Ireland will need to have two confirmed stadia to add to Scotland's six venues.

We have never been deflected by external forces

GAA president Sean McCague

However, GAA president Sean McCague told a national gathering of the association on Friday evening that they would not be rushed into an early decision.

"The formal request from the Government in regard to the use of Croke Park for the Euro 2008 soccer tournament was brought to Central Council where it was discussed," said McCague.

"Council re-affirmed the views of the association that this request was a matter that could only be considered at Annual Congress".

The GAA's next Annual Congress doesn't take place until April.

In a thinly-veiled rebuke to the Irish Government, McCague added:"We have never been deflected by external forces and we will not be deflected now".

McCague was speaking at a special congress being held in Dublin over the weekend to discuss proposed changes to football playing rules and the suggestion that Dublin should be split into two football teams.

GAA president Sean McCague had strong words for the Irish Government
GAA president Sean McCague

Friday evening's first session rejected virtually all the changes proposed in the GAA's Strategic Review Committee report.

A motion that the 2003 and 2004 Allianz National Football Leagues should be played on a 13-a-side basis was not carried.

Dublin officials were delighted that the controversial proposal to split the county football team was also binned.

To compound a bad night for the members of the Strategic Review Committee, Gaelic Players Association chief executive Dessie Farrell said that players were being ignored by the gathering.

"The growing anger among players about their treatment by the GAA authorities has been one of the highest profile issues in the game for the past 18 months and it is not going to go away," said Farrell.

"But that fact is not reflected in the agenda for this weekend's deliberations.

"It seems players are still viewed as second-class citizens," added Farrell.


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