‘Drop Allianz’ campaign isn’t flagging despite GAA’s ongoing authoritarianism

Critics of the World Cup going to Russia in 2018 were rarely, if ever, labelled ‘anti-Orthodox’.

Those opposed to Qatar hosting the 2022 tournament, in the winter for the first time ever, were much more often accused of being western-biased rather than ‘anti-Muslim’.

Calls for this year’s World Cup to be taken away from the USA did not lead to suggestions that those making the call were ‘anti-Christian’.

So why do those who don’t want Israel to be involved in world sport have the ‘anti-Semitic’ jibe regularly thrown at them?

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Worse than that, why are we called ‘Jew-haters’?

The answers to those questions, of course, is that those are cowardly, cheap shots, low blows aimed at shutting down criticism of the current Israeli government and its awful actions.

For the avoidance of any doubt, I don’t hate anyone based on their religion.

Additionally, I despise Holocaust deniers. To repeat what I’ve written before, the Holocaust was the worst collective crime committed by humanity – so far, anyway.

There is anti-Semitism in the world, none of which should be ignored or tolerated.

Equally, though, the abuse and killings conducted at the behest of the Israeli government should not be overlooked either.

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My antipathy is directed towards this Israeli government and its ongoing killing of Gazans/ Palestinians – and now Iranians, with Israel’s illegal war in cahoots with the authoritarian loons currently in charge of the USA.

If this needs to be said, I’ll say it: I do not support Hamas, nor their crimes, which I condemn. However, I do understand why they felt driven to launch those October 7 attacks.

Of course, it’s worth remembering that Israel literally sponsored Hamas, in order to weaken the Palestine Liberation Organisation. And that Israel allowed Qatar to fund and support Hamas for many years.

Ah, sponsorship.

Ah, financial links with Israel.

Last weekend was another one of disgrace for the GAA, following on from the ‘keep your mouths shut and your hands out for money’ attitude of all delegates at Annual Congress in late February.

Preventing some supporters from bringing Palestinian flags into Croke Park during the League football finals, and also forcibly removing other supporters who had brought such flags inside the stadium, were acts of desperation and dictatorship.

Worse was to follow with the GAA’s pathetic ‘explanation’ that flags were taken away on the grounds of ‘health and safety’.

Do they take us all for fools?

Are we expected to believe that no large flags will be flown at any GAA grounds during the forthcoming Championships?

Sure there are regulations about flags printed in every match programme – but when are they ever enforced?

Sitting in the posh seats wearing suits doesn’t make you better, or smarter, than the supporters – or reporters.

Urinating down our backs and telling us that ‘it’s raining’ does not wash.

It’s abundantly clear that the GAA knows its ongoing links with Allianz plc (Ireland) are wrong, damaging, and embarrassing.

The lack of any in-person player interviews ahead of the four divisional football finals was further evidence of that shame.

Ironically, the GAA’s heavy-handed, authoritarian approach is having the ‘Barbra Streisand effect’ – drawing attention to the issue it really hopes everyone will ignore.

By removing Palestinian flags from GAA headquarters the Association is implicitly linking itself to the country most opposed to Palestine – namely, Israel.

By hardly having any mention of Allianz Plc (Ireland), the GAA is only making more starkly clear its shame and embarrassment about being in bed with that company.

By the way, lawyers for Allianz Plc (Ireland) have asked me to point out that it is a separate entity from Allianz SE. So there you go.

Yet as someone interested in truth and accuracy I do feel obliged to also note that Allianz SE merely owns 100 per cent of the shares of Allianz Plc (Ireland).

You don’t really have to ‘follow the money’ in this case; you simply have to have a functioning brain. A moral compass helps too.

The Leagues may be over this weekend, with the playing of the hurling finals, but the battle against the GAA’s continuing relationship Allianz plc (Ireland) is definitely not finished.

The fight is far from over.

Rebecca Solnit, the acclaimed author and climate and human rights activist, put it well in Sunday’s ‘Observer’ newspaper:

“Most victories happen because people didn’t give up when they were told things couldn’t change…

“You can see people who persevered even beyond hope, because they thought it was the right thing to do.”

Cumann na mBunscol Antrim, has followed the fine example set by its Derry counterpart in rejecting the money from Allianz Plc (Ireland).

Former Tyrone players are continuing to encourage other counties to back the ‘Drop Allianz’ campaign – with action, not mere words.

Allianz Plc (Ireland) remains a major sponsor of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.

Ex-Tyrone star Damian O’Hagan commented: The GAA’s mission statement emphasises that ‘We all belong’, that ‘Belonging means having a voice, Being able to say what you think is right, Being listened to.’

“But at the recent Congress, to the shame of those involved, that value was totally ignored.”

To re-iterate, I’m not anti-Semitic in any sense or any way.

However, I am anti-BS.

I am opposed to the needless slaughter of civilians, including many children, simply to keep evil men out of prison in their own countries.

Keep politics out of sport?

When sport stops sending major events to repressive states such as Qatar, Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the USA then I’ll happily go back to only talking tactics.

When sport grows a backbone and bans Israel for its apartheid policies – as it did with white South Africa – I’ll be a happy man.

You don’t think Israel practises apartheid? Open your eyes. Listen to the demeaning words with which some Israeli politicians describe Palestinians.

Look at Israeli politicians celebrating a law which allows that rogue state to execute imprisoned Palestinians.

For the avoidance of doubt, I don’t care about flags – I’m not a flag-shagger.

What matters are the principles of free expression and truth.

The current GAA leadership have not only allowed an indelible stain onto their reputations, they are wearing that as a badge of honour, rather than the sign of shame that it truly is.

© The Irish News

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