RTE bans product placement

RTE have banned product placement by players in all sports, it has been revealed.

The decision follows reports that members of the GPA were receiving EUR500 if seen drinking Club Energise, the official GPA sports drink, during post-match interviews.

Confirming that a ban has been put in place, an RTE spokesperson said: "We don’t want to comment on specific incidents. But we have a policy in place which we aim to stick to. We cannot and will not allow product placement. There will be no exceptions.

"This is a new policy. We will be making it clear to players or whoever that this is our stance. And this applies to all sports whether it be hurling, football, soccer or rugby."

A source close to RTE’s flagship GAA programme, The Sunday Game, noted: "Players are obviously well aware of the financial implications and you can’t blame them. GAA players deserve a few bob and if you were an inter-county player you’d probably do it yourself, but all we can do is keep an eye on this and monitor the situation.

"We have a good relationship with Dessie Farrell (GPA chief executive), so if this gets any worse we’d go to him first of all and then approach the drinks firm."