John Mullane has said that GAA president Jarlath Burns is "out of touch" with the organisation's members as the GAAGO row rumbles on.
Burns has defended the use of the streaming service in recent days in the face of fierce criticism over the epic Munster hurling clash between Cork and Limerick on Saturday night being placed behind a paywall.
The situation has led to a war of words between Burns and RTÉ pundit Seán Cavanagh, who called the GAA "one of the richest organisations in the world" before clarifying his comments on Monday.
Burns had reacted to Cavanagh's initial comment by saying that it was "superficial and emotional" and that it "doesn't take into account the complexities of the logistics that we have to deal with in the real world."
John Mullane calls out Jarlath Burns in GAAGO debate
Speaking on Today with Claire Byrne on Tuesday, former Waterford hurler Mullane backed Cavanagh in the debate, while calling out Burns.
"I'm 100% behind Seán Cavanagh," Mullane told the presenter. "He was right on the button. Sometimes the big boys up in Croke Park don't like to be taken on. This is not an attack on Jarlath, in the first couple of months I've been very impressed by him but I think he's out of touch with some of the GAA members.
"If you did a poll in the morning and asked people on the ground 'are you in favour of GAAGO or not,' you'd be surprised by the numbers."
'GAA President Jarlath Burns Calls Out Sean Cavanagh Over 'Crazy' Comments On TV'
He didn't hold back 👀https://t.co/QtFE3K3Dvo— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) May 13, 2024
John Mullane: "We pay enough in the GAA"
Earlier in the conversation, Mullane, an analyst with RTÉ Radio, outlined his view that GAA members shouldn't have to play for the privilege of watching big games such as the one between Cork and Limerick.
"I think this thing is totally wrong," he said. "I didn't like it from the get-go and my stance on it hasn't changed. In saying that, that's nothing against GAAGO. I think GAAGO is a fantastic product. The people interviewing, the analysts, the commentators.
"It's a product that has a future and I think it can go but can it grow in the nature it's growing at the moment? Absolutely not.
"I just feel we're at a crossroads in the GAA. There's 68 games being broadcast, 37 of those game are behind a paywall and 31 are live on free-to-air to tv.
"I'm a volunteer and I became a great player through the volunteers within my club who threw me in a car, put jerseys on me, went out in the rain and the snow and did everything for me. I'm sure it was the exact same for Henry Shefflin, Patrick Horgan or TJ Reid.
"We pay enough in the GAA. I pay a formidable amount of money within my club whether it be membership, club lotto, if there's a scheme to get the facilities up to scratch. I think there's a self-entitlement within the GAA members that we can sti down on a Saturday evening or a Sunday, watch a game and not have to pay for it."
11 May 2024; The GAAGO panel, left to right, Gráinne McElwee, John O'Dwyer, Eoin Cadogan, and Séamus Hickey, ahead of the Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Round 3 match between Cork and Limerick at SuperValu Páirc Ui Chaoimh in Cork. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile
GAAGO debate rumbles on
The GAAGO debate has cropped up over the past couple of summers and is sure to do so again until some sort of compromise is made.
For now, supporters may just have to accept that they will have to splash out in order to watch some of Ireland's biggest sporting fixtures live on TV.
See Also: GAA Power Rankings: Where Gaelic Football's Top 10 Stand After The Provincial Championships
