The GAA has issued an invitation to the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) to clarify evidence that has led to the requirement to ‘curtail its activities’.
The statement, published on the GAA website reads:
‘Following this evening’s unexpected announcement, the GAA invites Dr Ronan Glynn and NPHET to present the empirical evidence which informed the requirement for the Association to curtail its activities.
‘The Association will tonight be issuing an invitation to Dr Glynn to meet with its Covid Advisory Group in this regard without delay. The GAA and its members remain at all times committed to protecting public health.’
Following the recommendation of NPHET, the government yesterday announced that with immediate effect all games must be played behind closed doors and training should be limited to 15 people outdoors and six indoors.
Dr Glynn emphasised that NPHET recognises the important role of sport in society but that there were cases linked to spectators at matches.
He said:
“The measures recommended were not aimed at stopping sport. As long as sport continues with all the protective measures that are around that already in place… we are saying that sport can continue.
“It’s what has been happening before and after matches. It’s households congregating and travelling together. Yes, of course you’ll say team-mates will travel to and from and 30 people will come together (to play) but that’s 30 people rather than 230 or 250 people.”
The news came as a shock to supporters and county boards as the fate of the All-Ireland inter-county championships remains uncertain.
