GAA breach consumer rights law

THE GAA are in breach of consumer rights law by not issuing patrons with receipts at non-ticketed games. Although not obliged to issue receipts, they are obliged to issue them if requested, under law – and their failure to do so at last Saturday’s postponed Allianz National Hurling League opener between Tipperary and Kilkenny in Thurles resulted in patrons unable to receive a refund or voucher, according to their rights.

It was agreed that last night’s re-fixture in Thurles would go ahead on the basis of free admission, thereby compensating patrons for any loss. That match was postponed, but even assuming the policy of free admission applies when the game eventually goes ahead, it will be of no consolation to patrons unable to attend.

The GAA have promised to review the issue of ticketing for matches as a matter of urgency, stating that the practice of not issuing receipts for non-ticketed games “will have to be looked into”, but in the meantime it would appear under law that anyone unable to attend a free-of-charge re-fixture is entitled to a refund.

There was a general admission price of €15 last Saturday (with under-16s admitted free) and an estimated crowd of around 10,000 – but if there is free admission for the re-fixture there almost certainly won’t be any surplus on the gate receipts.

However, according to a spokesperson for the Consumers’ Association of Ireland, anyone who attended last Saturday’s game – and is either unable or unwilling to attend the re-fixture – has two courses of action; write to the GAA requesting a refund, or take the case to the small claims court as a breach of the Consumer Protection Act (which, coincidently, involves a non-refundable fee of €15).

“The customer is entitled to a receipt, for any purchase or transaction,” according to the Consumers’ Association. “He or she is not obliged to be given it, but the law states that if they ask for that receipt, then they have to get it. The customer here has two courses of action. They can write to the GAA, requesting a refund, or they can make a case to the small claims court.

“But it’s not something we have come across before. The customer is entitled to a refund, and should be given a refund. That could be trouble for the GAA, and perhaps they’ll learn a lesson from it. It’s obviously left a bad taste in some people’s mouths, and if for whatever reason they weren’t able to attend the re-fixture then they shouldn’t lose out.”

The matter has been put into the hands of the GAA’s National Finance Committee, and it would appear inevitable that the issuing of receipts will become the practice for the future.

It is understood that any patrons writing to the finance office at Croke Park seeking a refund are being accommodated, although there is also a potential get-out clause for the GAA, as according to law, the request for the receipt has to be made at the time of the transaction – and not afterwards, as appeared to be the case with the vast majority of patrons in Thurles last Saturday.

On another matter, GAA president Christy Cooney has described as “unacceptable” the scenes which marred the end of last Sunday’s AIB All-Ireland football semi-final win for Kilmurray-Ibrickane over Portlaoise – where match referee Michael Duffy had to be escorted off the field by the police after being accosted by a Portlaoise supporter. Although the Central Competitions Control Committee is investigating, Cooney welcomed Portlaoise’s statement condemning such behaviour.

“It was very unsatisfactory and not acceptable,” said Cooney. “I noted that Portlaoise came out as a club and condemned their own supporter for the behaviour and I welcome that. But I’m sure the CCCC will deal with the situation.”

On the matter of referees not applying one of the new experimental rules whereby matches can only be concluded when the ball goes out of play, as happened in the Longford-Limerick division four football game last Sunday, Cooney was a little more forgiving.

“The referees are well aware of the rules and it was human error over the weekend,” he said. “In fairness, the CCCC will be dealing with it. If there is an appeal in let CCCC deal with that.”