GAA pitch invaders an undisciplined, self indulgent rabble

[The_SR]

Please bear in mind, that the GAA hierarchy are in many cases (especially outside of Croke Park), either ambivalent or actively encouraging of this kind of action. What you consider to be your opinion, is not necessarily the way others see it.

As regards foreign visitors feeling contempt or pity, might you care to provide evidence for this ? Anecdotally, whenever I have spoken to foreign visitors to our national games, they have been positively amazed by the community athmosphere which takes place despite intense rivalries.

Finally, Gardaí cannot issue fines for actions which are not illegal. It is not illegal to run onto a GAA field, and as far as I know, the GAA have no plans to make such actions illegal

Actually it is and its not up to the GAA to decide what the law of the land is.

But you have inadvertantly hit the nail on the head. The GAA are the only sport out there that tacitly allow these pitch invasions. Do this at any other sport in the world and you are lagged with the full support of the organisers of the game you disrupted. But for some reason because its 'traditional' GAA folk will defend it.

Why the Gardaí tolerate it at the GAA and not at other sports is an interesting question.....

No comment from anyone defending this on the hospitalised steward at the hurling cup final I note.

[The_SR]

Indeed, thats just what this country is lacking, more health and safety regs. In fact if they just played the games and closed the stadiums to the public things would be so much safer.

But the point here is that the health and safety regs exist and that the GAA supporters are allowed to flout them....

[YoungLiberal]

Why the Gardaí tolerate it at the GAA and not at other sports is an interesting question.....

Because there's a tradition of it in the GAA and it does no harm, pitch invasions have been part of the association since 1884 and there's been little or no injuries. Finally, soccer fans would probably start a riot among each other, or something...

[YoungLiberal]

But the point here is that the health and safety regs exist and that the GAA supporters are allowed to flout them....

Also, most Gardai in Croker are actually members of the association itself...

[supamolli]

Actually it is and its not up to the GAA to decide what the law of the land is.

What's the relevant legislation?

[YoungLiberal]

[quote=Bain Dramage;2513511]

Because there's a tradition of it in the GAA and it does no harm, pitch invasions have been part of the association since 1884 and there's been little or no injuries. Finally, soccer fans would probably start a riot among each other, or something...[/QUOTE

A lot of soccer fans go to games in the hope of a riot.
I don't remember any trouble amoungst supporters at GAA matches, the only ever risk would be a certain element of the Dubs support.

Okay, maybe that small section of Rovers fans in the Nally corner of the Hill...but there's usuall about 50 of them out of about 60,000 Dubs...and the recent they don't cause trouble is decent Dubs just wouldn't stand for it.

[JCR]

Because there's a tradition of it in the GAA and it does no harm, pitch invasions have been part of the association since 1884 and there's been little or no injuries. Finally, soccer fans would probably start a riot among each other, or something...

Well in fairness to the gaa the rioting tends to be restricted to the players, specially the fellas with the sticks and the hard hats..

[YoungLiberal]

Well in fairness to the gaa the rioting tends to be restricted to the players, specially the fellas with the sticks and the hard hats..

Exactly. No place for ponces on a football or a hurling field...

[Aristodemus]

It's an experience I have not had as I am from a sad county which is rubbish at everything and hasnt won anything in my lifetime.
That said it really is pathetic watching a load of ruddy faced farmers running across a field looking like they're chasing a sheep for some nefarious purpose

[The_SR]

Because there's a tradition of it in the GAA and it does no harm, pitch invasions have been part of the association since 1884 and there's been little or no injuries. Finally, soccer fans would probably start a riot among each other, or something...

A lot of soccer fans go to games in the hope of a riot.
I don't remember any trouble amoungst supporters at GAA matches, the only ever risk would be a certain element of the Dubs support.

Are you two for real? There are dozens of cases every year in the GAA of fans invading the pitch to attack referees and players. One as recently as a couple of weeks ago in the clubs cup in Meath I think.