The GAA confirmed just before Christmas that its 30-plus year association with Allianz will continue despite the global insurance giant’s links with Israel and the war in Gaza
Former Antrim star Neil McManus has supported the Down motion to withdraw from the National League over sponsors Allianz. McManus has predicted protests throughout the competition too as players make their views known on the divisive issue.
The GAA convened its Ethics and Integrity Commission (EIC) to consider the role of Allianz in the Association and the global insurance giant’s links with Israel and the war in Gaza.
A report from UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese highlighted ties between global insurance giants, Israeli ‘war bonds’ and the genocide in Gaza.
Over 800 current and former county players called on the GAA to end its dealings with Allianz while nine counties formally made the same plea.
But the GAA confirmed on the weekend before Christmas that its 30-plus year association with Allianz will continue.
Down club Saval has since proposed that the county withdraw its teams from the National League in protest.
Speaking at the launch of the latest series of TG4’s Laochra Gael, in which he features, McManus said he supports the Down recommendation.
“I support it, 100 percent,” said McManus, who was one of the 800 players to initially protest. “I don’t think we should have any involvement with Allianz, just to be crystal clear about it.”
And on the threat of wider player protests, McManus said he expects those to materialise.
“I think you will see protests,” said the Cushendall man. “You will find that some groups of players are more politically aware than others. Just depending on the leadership of that group, that will dictate what groups actually protest.
“I wouldn’t bet against anything really because it’s the issue of our time, let’s be honest. Ireland can be very proud of itself in terms of the people of Ireland. Our government have absolutely not covered themselves in glory with Palestine and the genocide that’s ongoing there.
“But whenever you look at Ireland on the whole, you look at President Michael D Higgins, you look at his successor, you look at the GAA, the people of the GAA, Ireland can say that it’s very much stood on the right side of this.”
McManus said he wouldn’t be surprised if players from Ulster are most active on the issue.
“I definitely think that, probably because of how politicised the north is, you will probably find more politically aware players in the north,” said the former attacker.
“I hope that’s not an unfair generalisation but whenever I went through my career, if I was playing on a combined rules team in the shinty international, or if you were away on a trip with other GAA players from the south, sometimes you had to do an education piece as well on just what life has been like for a GAA player in the north.”
McManus was ‘disappointed’ when he learned of the GAA’s decision regarding Allianz.
“I don’t believe that the values that make the GAA what the GAA is have any alignment with Allianz,” he said.
But he did acknowledge that it’s not a straightforward or easy decision for the amateur organisation to make.
“The GAA has a responsibility to its clubs so we have to be a financially viable organisation, I understand that,” he said. “Would it be straightforward recruiting another insurer? No, it wouldn’t. That doesn’t matter to me because we should just do the right thing.”
McManus retired from Antrim after the 2023 season and his Laochra Gael episode will air on TG4 on February 26.
“Antrim have obviously regressed in the last couple of years but we’d kind of solidified ourselves as a Division 1 Liam MacCarthy Cup team for the first time in almost 20 years and that made me happy,” said McManus of when he retired. “I must admit I took an awful lot of joy out of that.”
