Clarke speaks out against verbal abuse

July 09, 2015

Armagh's Jamie Clarke celebrates scoring the winning point
©INPHO

Jamie Clarke says there is no place on a football field for sledging or sectarian abuse.

Speaking as an ambassador at the launch of the GPA's Fair Play Campaign, the Armagh ace points out that he has been targetted both inside and outside Ulster:

"It's certainly become a strategy of certain teams, absolutely," the Crossmaglen attacker is quoted in The Irish Times. "I would say more so in Ulster, yes, although from an Armagh perspective, there are times when you are playing southern teams, and you stupidly have got sectarian abuse. Even though it doesn't make sense when you are playing Gaelic football.

"Ultimately, teams will do whatever it takes to win. The fair play campaign is something we need to promote more. There has been a lot of focus on cynicism and verbal abuse over this summer. There is not a game that goes by that you don't hear about it.

"We all give it everything, we all want to win and we all want that winning mentality. But ultimately the GAA itself and everything around it is based on respect, on and off the field. Although we are amateur, it has grown professionally and it is heading in that direction. And it us up to the players to lead by example."


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