"According to the article, written by RTE's Niall McCoy and labeled as "Exclusive," members of the Dublin sides decided "to refuse to appear in front of Allianz-branded signage" this season because of the insurer's business dealings in Israel since the Gaza invasion. The RTE story inspired other Irish athletes to chime in with support, generated related protests, and overwhelmed all other opening weekend news."
"So avoiding the company's logos on game broadcasts is no simple chore, and would at the very least mean the protesting players would be declining man-of-the-match interviews and award ceremonies. That would complicate matters for RTE, which has domestic broadcast rights for the All-Ireland and National League football and hurling competitions, which are not only the biggest annual athletic events but are part of the island nation's identity and history in ways that few sports are tied to any other country."
The National League hurling and football seasons begin, ending months without Gaelic sports. RTE ran a major piece reporting Dublin squad members planned to refuse to appear before Allianz-branded signage because of the insurer's business dealings in Israel since the Gaza invasion. The report inspired other Irish athletes to voice support, generated related protests, and dominated opening-weekend coverage before the claim was later refuted. Allianz has been the leagues' title sponsor since 1993, and avoiding the company's logos would require declining man-of-the-match interviews and award ceremonies. A United Nations Human Rights Council report cited investments by Allianz and AXA in shares and bonds linked to occupation and alleged genocide.
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