Armagh star tears into GAA for not paying “one penny” of player expenses this season

"Players are out a lot of money in the middle of a cost of living crisis."

Armagh star Aidan Nugent uses Twitter to tear into the GAA for not paying even "one penny" of the player expenses that they are owed this season. GAA players are entitled to expenses to cover the cost of travel that is required to get to and from training, particularly as many work outside of their native counties. Last year the Gaelic Players Association accused the organisation of going back on their word when they cut the expenses due to COVID in 2020, but never restored them to the pre-pandemic value, despite promising to do so. This resulted in the players boycotting all media in last year's Allianz National League, refusing to give post match interviews. Nugent is not only a key man in Kieran McGeeney's impressive Armagh team, but is also a member of the GPA and clearly feels very passionately about the situation. https://twitter.com/AidanNugent12/status/1625160269696495625

"@gaelicplayers- Inter County training officially allowed back on 24th November and players haven't received 1 penny of expenses up to this point," Nugent tweeted. "Players (especially student athletes with no other income) are out a lot of money in the middle of a cost of living crisis. https://twitter.com/AidanNugent12/status/1625160417562529799

"There's not enough being said about it. Players generate massive amounts of money each year for the GAA, the least were owed is the expenses that we get promised, paid on time." It looks like the battle over expenses has spilled into the 2023 season with no resolution, and if it continues in this matter, then more strikes and forms of player protest could arise. Related links:

• Allianz League final media event cancelled because of GPA protest
• "Was that an honest way to negotiate?” - GPA blasts GAA&'s conduct in blunt statement
• Armagh's risk vs reward style pulls through to steal dramatic draw with Mayo