GAA Footballer Expects Pay-For-Play Format To Be Adopted In Future

Galway Gaelic Athletic Association football player Damien Comer claimed that it is "only a matter of time before a form of pay-for-play is introduced for inter-county players," according to Paul Keane of the LONDON TIMES. Comer said, "You've seen it in the last few years how much is being demanded of players, I do think that at some stage there's going to be some compromise for players. I can see it going semi-professional or something along those lines." He revealed that, "like a number of top players, he chose to pursue teaching as an occupation mainly to complement his inter-county career." The GAA's rules on amateur status mean that any form of pay-for-play is "strictly forbidden" but Comer feels that "has to change." Comer: "I know they're on about tax relief and there's talks about that, which would be something at least. When you're training five, six times a week, you need it" (LONDON TIMES, 1/24).