GAA must take Care to avoid elitism

New deal for players bad timing amid DJ scandal

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RTE'S retelling of the fall of DJ 'the Dodger' Carey was a hard watch for GAA fans.

But it must have made for particularly uncomfortable viewing over at the Gaelic Players Association.

It wasn't great timing to have the nation reminded how Carey played such a lead role in launching the organisation that was founded to protect the interests of inter-county stars and get them a slice of the lucrative GAA pie.

Not when he has since become the most infamous bagman in the sport's history.

There he was in episode one at the height of his playing powers, sharing his vision that every county player would one day have a car deal.

The GPA chose the same week to unveil the dawn of a new commercial era within the GAA. One that for the first time gives inter-county players ownership of their image rights as the undisputed stars of the game.

It was announced that 15% of the gross commercial revenue of the GAA's Central Council would now go to the organisation representing the top 2% of the association's 200,000 amateur players.

They will also be entitled to a slice of the revenue from GAA+, the controversial streaming service that sparks heated debate among those who say rank-and-file members shouldn't have to pay per view for big summer games.