Dessie Has Image Problem
Talking Balls
Now that he’s got the Pay for Play issue away to bed and Mark Conway and the other true believers at arms length, GPA supremo Dessie Farrell is tilting at the recurring problem of image rights.
Clare hurler Diarmuid McMahon recently brought a case against the Clare Champion for using his image in promotional material without his consent. For those of you not in the know, as part of their membership service, the GPA asks players to sign over their image rights when they join up and thereafter the GPA manages their image rights. The GPA in this instance have advised McMahon throughout the case. All this despite the fact that many inter-county GAA players look they’ve been hit round the head with a shovel. That’s according to many of the countries leading shirt tuggers that we’ve spoken to - many of whom ignore the obvious lack of attractiveness in their menfolk happy in the knowledge they can snuggle up at night with a guy with a serious trunk, and the strength of a bull who can carry an entire team on his back - or so he thinks.
Imagine the shock and horror then, when the image rights case was booted to touch by Ennis District Court with all the insouciance of a Kieran McDonald wide - effortless, classy but ultimately totally futile.
Dessie has exaplined that it was struck out because it became apparent that the publishing house involved were going to challenge the issue and that there would have been a protracted court case that would have possibly gone to the High Court.
“With the championship just around the corner, Diarmuid didn’t want that distraction. But it is something he was upset about. It’s a grey area and we’re monitoring it closely. The law is still developing there. We will continue to advise players on these issues and possibly take a case (on their behalf) if it arises.
The image rights issue is something that needs to be tackled immediately, according to Farrell.
“It’s something that will have to be discussed with the GAA as part of our ongoing official recognition talks,” he added.