GAA president John Horan says it would be “desirable” to have crowds of some description when inter-county games return.
Under the association’s roadmap, inter-county action cannot resume until October 17th at the earliest and Horan says they’re waiting for government guidance on what form social distancing will take in October.
"It would be our hope to have attendances at games," he told reporters at a teleconference call. "It may mean we would use restricted venues for the inter-county championships when they actually come back on board.
"It's something we see as desirable to have crowds at a game. Obviously they won't be at the level as before, we'll be restricted, that they were but that restriction will take into account all the health measures and guidance that we are giving.
"We are really waiting for the government to come out with a figure on that because they talk about gatherings earlier until September 1, all our gatherings are outdoor so that would also be a factor."
The GAA's director general Tom Ryan added that aren't currently planning for inter-county matches to proceed without fans:
"Games behind closed doors is not really something that we want. It's not something we're really contemplating, it's not something we're actively pursuing to be honest.
"The answer is no. You're really talking about last, last resort territory there, and we're not contemplating it at all under any circumstances, really.
"Would it be worthwhile if you can't have a crowd? I don't know whether it would or wouldn't, there is a lot more value to the championship than the financial end of it. We won't be guided by that.
"I think it's just a case of being flexible, being able to adapt to whatever hand that we are dealt. None of us would have a huge amount of appetite for playing games behind closed doors."
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