Colm Keys: New image rights deal has opened financial doors of opportunity for GPA and players

"The issue of the image rights of inter-county GAA players has washed up on the GAA's shores consistently in the two-and-a-half decades since the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) was born."

"In the middle of the last decade one prominent chain of bookmakers was taken to task over the use of players' images in a promotional campaign. The GPA registered a complaint but didn't pursue action on behalf of the players. When images were used again by the same company in a race card two years later however, the matter went to the Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland which came down on the side of the players."

Image rights of inter-county GAA players have caused recurring disputes since the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) was established twenty-five years ago. In the middle of the last decade a prominent chain of bookmakers used players' images in a promotional campaign and was taken to task. The GPA registered a complaint but did not pursue legal action on behalf of the players. Two years later the same company used the images again in a race card. The repeated use led the matter to the Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland, which ruled in favour of the players.

Read at Independent