Referee David Gough yesterday branded the GAA’s refusal to allow Mayo players to wear rainbow colours on their jerseys in support of the LGBTQ+ community as “abhorrent”.
David, who is openly gay, said the GAA is wrong to prevent players from showing their support with rainbow colours.
Mayo GAA sought permission to have Kevin McStay’s team wear the rainbow-coloured numbers for home games in the 2023 Allianz Football League.
Players wanted to show unity with the LGBTQ+ community after an approach from their charity partner Mindspace Mayo, whose project manager is former Mayo footballer Peadar Gardiner. The application was denied by officials at Croke Park.
David, who came out as gay in 2011, said the GAA made the wrong call.
Speaking on Saturday with Colm O’Mongain on RTE Radio One, he said: “It’s an abhorrent decision by the GAA. I saw their statement and it was an unwise choice of words.”
David also said GAA sponsors should condemn the decision to refuse players permission to wear jerseys with rainbow numbers.
A spokesman for the GAA previously said: “The GAA is not anti-LGBTQ+.
“There is nothing to stop players from wearing rainbow boot laces or armbands.
“But the jerseys can’t be changed.”
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