The debate over whether inter-county players should be compensated for loss of earnings will resurface if the GAA decides to schedule any Friday evening championship games next year.
As the four provincial bodies finalise the dates and venues for their 2015 football and hurling championship, GPA chief executive Dessie Farrell has urged them not to fix any Friday night games until the issue of compensation for players who have to leave work early is properly addressed.
The 2013 All-Ireland SFC qualifier between neighbours Laois and Carlow is the only championship game to have been played on a Friday night to date.
"The idea of Friday evening games has been mooted again, but fundamental to that is the issue of player compensation. And as far as the GPA are concerned, that issue has yet to be properly addressed," Farrell is quoted in the Irish Times.
"It's important to point out that we are, in principal, behind the idea of exploring Friday evening games for the championship. But that idea has to be explored in more detail, and especially with proper consultation with the counties and players involved.
"Because you can't ask players to line out for a championship match on a Friday evening without asking how it impacts on their careers or education. It's definitely not a case of making a decision on this, and then just running with it. There needs to be due diligence, especially when it comes to the stakeholders.
"And that means the issue of compensation is unavoidable, if players are expected to take time off work. The championship is the blue ribbon competition, and much different to a club or underage fixture. Even if it's only a handful of players in each panel.
"So while in essence we do like the idea, it does bring some challenges, and we haven't been engaged any further on the matter. It's something we would be happy to explore, with the Leinster Council, but again the players would have to be engaged on it too."
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