The GAA is set to clamp down on pitch invasions and President Christy Cooney has said they “will not be tolerated†at grounds across the country this summer.
At last year’s All-Ireland hurling final the association attempted to present the Liam McCarthy cup to Kilkenny on the pitch, but were forced to resort to “plan b†when crowds invaded the playing area and the presentation took place in the Hogan stand.
But now the GAA are set to take a firm stance on the issue, and if they get their way no supporters will gain entry to the field of play at the final whistle of big matches ever again.
Speaking at the launch of the football championship in Kerry yesterday, Cooney said: “What we’re saying is that pitch invasions will not be tolerated in any situation.
“This policy got such a ringing endorsement at Congress that I think everyone realises now what we’re trying to achieve.
“As a result of that, management committee are going to revisit the issue next weekend. We really don’t want to go down the lines of introducing legislation.
“We want to educate the fans, that do they need to respect this, because they are endangering their lives, and particularly young people’s lives, and they need to respect the players too, winners and losers, on the day.”
Cooney added that if fans realize early on in the championship that pitch invasions simply will not be allowed, then they will be less likely to occur later in the year at bigger games.
He said: “It is usually only at the presentation of a trophy that it happens. You don’t see it too much outside of that. But I’ve said it before that it’s really about education, and that’s going to start at provincial level.
“That means banning pitch invasions right up to and including provincial finals, especially when it comes to the presentation of the cup.”
