National Forum

Allianz protest

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post


The GAA should do whats best for the GAA. For its members, the organisation and the sport.

They shouldn't just do what a minority want them to do on any issue.

Additionally if a minority of players, staff etc want to boycott interviews etc on the basis of how they feel on the matter in hand then more power to them.

tearintom (Wexford) - Posts: 1606 - 28/01/2026 14:40:37    2653756

Link

Replying To sligo joe:  "But why is it a problem for you. If someone says or does something that "you believe" is woke, virtue signalling etc, they are entitled to do so, they don't need or look for your approval so relax and wear an allianz shirt or whatever and the ones that don't want to stand beside allianz logos they can do that too. Again it's up to them if they want to donate to Palestinians, nothing to do with me or indeed you"
Well said.

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 345 - 28/01/2026 14:55:49    2653760

Link

Replying To tearintom:  "The GAA should do whats best for the GAA. For its members, the organisation and the sport.

They shouldn't just do what a minority want them to do on any issue.

Additionally if a minority of players, staff etc want to boycott interviews etc on the basis of how they feel on the matter in hand then more power to them."
Thing is, what's best for the GAA is a matter of opinion and is far from clearcut.

Is it best for the GAA to accept good money from a willing sponsor and be in a position of offer competitively-priced insurance to all its clubs to protect against public liability claims, storm damage, etc.?

Or is best for the GAA to take a moral stance and cut ties with a company that's been linked to events in Gaza?

It's matter of opinion all right. Very differing opinions.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3333 - 28/01/2026 15:18:55    2653770

Link

Replying To tearintom:  "The GAA should do whats best for the GAA. For its members, the organisation and the sport.

They shouldn't just do what a minority want them to do on any issue.

Additionally if a minority of players, staff etc want to boycott interviews etc on the basis of how they feel on the matter in hand then more power to them."
Has a vote of members been taken?

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 345 - 28/01/2026 16:26:32    2653786

Link

Replying To Square_B:  "That works both ways. This isn't a one way street. It's when these people start telling others that they should examine their consciousness about a topic or start telling organisations like the GAA what they should do. That's the problem I have. Protest if you want, you don't need to pontoficate to others about their morals as if your morals are the best morals."
100% agree that it is a two way street and since I read your most recent post I have scrolled back a few days on this thread. The general narrative is that those posters who support the interview protest are saying why they support it and those that don't support it are similarly saying why they don't. I don't see the pontificating you talk about. However what I do see from some anti interview protest posters is many of them labelling the players, managers and fans who do support the protest as woke, insincere and virtue signallers. This adds nothing to a discussion and really is symbolic of those without an answer trying to insult those they disagree with.

sligo joe (Dublin) - Posts: 1069 - 28/01/2026 16:51:47    2653788

Link

Replying To sligo joe:  "100% agree that it is a two way street and since I read your most recent post I have scrolled back a few days on this thread. The general narrative is that those posters who support the interview protest are saying why they support it and those that don't support it are similarly saying why they don't. I don't see the pontificating you talk about. However what I do see from some anti interview protest posters is many of them labelling the players, managers and fans who do support the protest as woke, insincere and virtue signallers. This adds nothing to a discussion and really is symbolic of those without an answer trying to insult those they disagree with."
I'll call them what they are because that's exactly what they are. Funny enough, someone mentioned Peugeot above, I haven't heard of any backlash against them strange enough. I wonder why? Would it ever be because they sponsor Dublin GAA?

The people asking for the GAA to make a stand ARE completely insincere about it. All they're looking for is column inches and a pat on the head for the next podcast they'll be asked on.

Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 1719 - 28/01/2026 17:18:05    2653800

Link

Replying To Seanfan:  "Has a vote of members been taken?"
Why would one need to be taken?

Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 1719 - 28/01/2026 17:41:30    2653805

Link

I suspect if the report had been about Russia/Ukraine and not Israel/Gaza opinions would be very very different. A sponsor with links to Russia would be dropped very quickly. I just don't understand why it's considered different because it's Israel?

supermon (Monaghan) - Posts: 1090 - 28/01/2026 20:24:12    2653820

Link

Replying To supermon:  "Oh I'm not getting upset about it, if Allianz chooses to do business that way thats fine for them. However making those choices come with consequences. I'm not disagreeing with your analysis of how the system works, I'll take your word for it.

Maybe losing sponsorship in a instance like this and having negative media commentary about the situation might actually make companies reconsider how they chose to invest funds or do business?

I'm not asking for them to sell anything, nor do I expect them to. They can do what they want. But like even a 'maybe buying these bonds was regretable' statement might have changed my mind when it comes to their continued sponsorship of the GAA. Its not Allianz's behaviour I am actually concerned with. They behave like every capitalist organisation that really are only concerned with one thing. My concern is the behaviour of the GAA. Its up to them who they choose to get as a sponsor. If they are happy to be sponsored by a company that is happy to do this kind of business thats what bothers me."
IN fairness Allianz has not issued any statement on the report for whatever reason and perhaps because they don't feel the need to as nowhere else has this become an issue. If you look at the other companies named in the report and what their contribution to the conflict is then I think Allianz would be on the lower end of the scale. Just one point last point on it - the bond issuance that they participated in was for US$8B, there were $36B in subscriptions for it. So Israel would have got their money if PIMCO was not involved, so the report saying that PIMCO was contributing to the premium that the bonds attract is not entirely true as its the $36B that was doing that, if PIMCO was the only buyer then yes but unfortunately the global demand for these bonds is there regardless of their participation - the reason that Investors do not see an issue with buying these bonds is because the heavy backing the US gives to Israel, if this was any other country in the world, nobody would be buying their bonds.

I think the issue a lot of people have with the protests is that, two things, one they don't understand what they are protesting, they hear UN report, Gaza and Allianz and thats enough and two where does it stop. Should the GAA be held far more accountable than us as individuals in their decision making we are a reflection of the GAA? did anyone stop using google, did all the people working in google resign in protest, same with facebook etc. and as I said the root of the problem is the US approach to Israel, would as individuals we be willing to plunge the country back into the dark ages by boycotting everything from the US. We cannot even get the occupied territories bill through - by the way has Musgraves committed to not purchasing anything from Israel?
The uncomfortable truth is that the GAA is reflecting its members values and once people are honest with themselves then this is not such an issue.

zinny (Wexford) - Posts: 2156 - 29/01/2026 04:21:06    2653852

Link

Replying To supermon:  "I suspect if the report had been about Russia/Ukraine and not Israel/Gaza opinions would be very very different. A sponsor with links to Russia would be dropped very quickly. I just don't understand why it's considered different because it's Israel?"
What Israeli company sponsors the GAA? Asking for a friend.

If you want to search hard enough you'll find a link to anything to get your knickers in a twist over. Gazprom was rightly dropped as a sponsor of European football at the outset of the Russian / Ukrainian war. However, the phone in your pocket is likely made from chips sourced from Israel. Are you going to boycott that? The shelves of all the food retailers are full of goods sourced from Israel, are you going to boycott that too? The 'links' Allianz have are at best tepid... why not get your knickers in a twist at the IRFU/FAI and Aviva as well while you're at it. This is nothing but woke, virtue seeking nonsense.

Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 1719 - 29/01/2026 06:32:33    2653853

Link

Replying To Square_B:  "What Israeli company sponsors the GAA? Asking for a friend.

If you want to search hard enough you'll find a link to anything to get your knickers in a twist over. Gazprom was rightly dropped as a sponsor of European football at the outset of the Russian / Ukrainian war. However, the phone in your pocket is likely made from chips sourced from Israel. Are you going to boycott that? The shelves of all the food retailers are full of goods sourced from Israel, are you going to boycott that too? The 'links' Allianz have are at best tepid... why not get your knickers in a twist at the IRFU/FAI and Aviva as well while you're at it. This is nothing but woke, virtue seeking nonsense."
do you believe in trying to change anything at all Square_B or does someone have to be the absolute perfect person living as a hermit using no products or services linked to anything morally questionable before they can express an opinion about something

CCFabu (Donegal) - Posts: 288 - 29/01/2026 10:21:04    2653871

Link

Replying To zinny:  "IN fairness Allianz has not issued any statement on the report for whatever reason and perhaps because they don't feel the need to as nowhere else has this become an issue. If you look at the other companies named in the report and what their contribution to the conflict is then I think Allianz would be on the lower end of the scale. Just one point last point on it - the bond issuance that they participated in was for US$8B, there were $36B in subscriptions for it. So Israel would have got their money if PIMCO was not involved, so the report saying that PIMCO was contributing to the premium that the bonds attract is not entirely true as its the $36B that was doing that, if PIMCO was the only buyer then yes but unfortunately the global demand for these bonds is there regardless of their participation - the reason that Investors do not see an issue with buying these bonds is because the heavy backing the US gives to Israel, if this was any other country in the world, nobody would be buying their bonds.

I think the issue a lot of people have with the protests is that, two things, one they don't understand what they are protesting, they hear UN report, Gaza and Allianz and thats enough and two where does it stop. Should the GAA be held far more accountable than us as individuals in their decision making we are a reflection of the GAA? did anyone stop using google, did all the people working in google resign in protest, same with facebook etc. and as I said the root of the problem is the US approach to Israel, would as individuals we be willing to plunge the country back into the dark ages by boycotting everything from the US. We cannot even get the occupied territories bill through - by the way has Musgraves committed to not purchasing anything from Israel?
The uncomfortable truth is that the GAA is reflecting its members values and once people are honest with themselves then this is not such an issue."
I think your last sentence gets to the crux of it really, but what I find frustrating is if I say that this is not reflecting my values as a GAA member, I am called a virtue signalling woke hypocrite. I find that attitude nauseating and arrogant, as if I'm some cynical lazy person looking for a pat on the head rather than feeling strongly about an issue. People who spout that nonsense seem very content in their own lives to hurl from the ditch and the status quo is fine and all the rest of it. I can't stand it - they'll happily say what's happening in Gaza is terrible and then criticise me for speaking about it, for going to a protest, for trying to make changes in my own community about it?

At the end of the day it is an issue for me and I'm saying what I believe the GAA should do about it, I will advocate for that and someone like yourself has made reasonable points about how complicated the whole issue is with the bonds and Allianz, that's all fair argument in my view. As I've said many times here I know this is a complicated situation for the GAA to navigate but I still think that they have choices to make between accepting sponsorship money and using products and services. Letting Allianz wrap themselves in the GAA coat and say how great they are for sponsoring the GAA is using our associations good image and standing in Ireland to help their own image. That's how sponsorship works and anyone who refuses to acknowledge that just isn't being honest in this debate in my opinion.

If you accept that's how sponsorship works, the question then becomes - do we want the GAA to give their good image over to companies with links that we find morally questionable (being generous)? And that's the complication like you say with PIMCO and all the rest - but the GAA are more than capable of making difficult choices from complex situations. It is still a choice to accept Allianz's money and I don't like the attitude from some areas on this that it's all just an inevitable situation that nobody, literally not one person, can do anything about. We all just have to accept things as they are and that's that?

CCFabu (Donegal) - Posts: 288 - 29/01/2026 10:31:48    2653873

Link

Replying To Square_B:  "What Israeli company sponsors the GAA? Asking for a friend.

If you want to search hard enough you'll find a link to anything to get your knickers in a twist over. Gazprom was rightly dropped as a sponsor of European football at the outset of the Russian / Ukrainian war. However, the phone in your pocket is likely made from chips sourced from Israel. Are you going to boycott that? The shelves of all the food retailers are full of goods sourced from Israel, are you going to boycott that too? The 'links' Allianz have are at best tepid... why not get your knickers in a twist at the IRFU/FAI and Aviva as well while you're at it. This is nothing but woke, virtue seeking nonsense."
The terms "woke" and "virtue signalling"
Enough said.

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 345 - 29/01/2026 10:54:09    2653876

Link