While Rule 11 of the 2006 OG (formerly Rule 12 of the 1986 OG and subsequent years) describes the GAA as an amateur association, there is an anomaly here. This rule does provide for professionals. Over the past number of years the GAA has been paying a large number of coaches, officials and others who provide a professional service . . . architects, solicitors and the like. Some full-time professional coaches play gaelic football at the highest level for their counties and many have won All Ireland medals. Rule 11 provides for this anomaly where a fulltime professional coach can play with and against amateur players.

The interesting thing about this rule is that once the association employs a person, it can pay either a salary or a wage and that person is not in breach of Rule 11 and of course can retain membership of the GAA. Therefore, a team manager who becomes an employee of a club or county board can be regarded as a professional and can be paid as much as Alex Ferguson without breaking any GAA rule. As the GAA jealously guards its position as the last surviving bastion of amateurism in major sport in this country, it is interesting to note that in the distant past there was a rather casual attitude in some quarters to players accepting cash in recognition of their service to the county team. This was certainly the case when Dublin gathered to celebrate the All Ireland successes of 1906 and '07 at the Banba Hall in the city, and the presentations ended with a purse of sovereigns to Kerry born, Paddy Casey. It was, apparently, quite acceptable as there was never a word of protest from any quarter.

In an article written by Tommy Conlon in the Sunday Independent on 15 October 2000, he stated that the Irish players who went to Australia (International Rule series, October 1999) ''lived the life of professional sportsmen for three weeks . . . hotels, travel, daily training, loads of gear, big games, great stadia, everything taken care of . . .

and £75 a day in the back pocket.'' In November 2003 it was reported in one of the daily newspapers that "some of Ireland's amateur International Rules players earned up to 6,000 during the series in Australia the previous month. '' This included 1,000 paid by Coca Cola to each player and 127 paid per day to each player by the GAA. It was also stated that "many of the players received spending money from their clubs and county boards".

Furthermore, when the Coca-Cola cheques were being given to the players, they were told by a senior GAA Official that it related to 'endorsement' for wearing the Coca-Cola logo (on their tracksuits, tops and bags).

Interestingly, it was only the players who received these cheques from Coca-Cola and not any other member of the travelling squad, even though they also wore the Coca-Cola logo . This is clearly a case of pay for play. Can you imagine the outcry from the GAA if players playing gaelic football or hurling for their club or county received these types of payments? Many would support the argument that players should get as much as they can, but why are players who are playing for the International Rules team treated differently? No question about it, there are double standards at work.

Some GAA people who should know better say that these payments were above board as ''it's not gaelic football they are playing, so it isn't covered by rules''. This is incorrect.

Rule 3 of the GAA's Official Guide Part 1 states: ''The Association shall promote and control the National games of Hurling, Gaelic Football, Handball and Rounders, and such other games, as may be sanctioned and approved by Annual Congress.'' International Rules has received such sanction and approval from the GAA's Annual Congress. Therefore, it does come under GAA rules.

Furthermore, the players on the Irish team who went to Australia in 1999, 2001, 2003 and 2005 were engaged in full-time training. The present International Rules team went to a training camp in Toulouse last weekend, supposedly to get to know each other and to get ready for the Australians.

By requiring them to participate in full-time training, the GAA are effectively making these players professional sportsmen, and by doing so, are in breach of their own rules. Some food for thought.