Ireland

GAA pundit Colm O'Rourke accused of using homophobic language

Colm O'Rourke said on Sunday that removing contact from Gaelic football would turn it into a "namby-pamby pansy-boy game"
Colm O'Rourke said on Sunday that removing contact from Gaelic football would turn it into a "namby-pamby pansy-boy game" Colm O'Rourke said on Sunday that removing contact from Gaelic football would turn it into a "namby-pamby pansy-boy game"

A GAA pundit has been accused of using homophobic language during a discussion about the use of the black card for foul play in Gaelic football.

During the broadcast of Allianz League Sunday on RTÉ, Colm O'Rourke said removing contact from the sport would turn it into a "namby-pamby pansy-boy game", adding "I think none of us want that".

The comments sparked immediate criticism online.

Among those condemning the former Meath All-Ireland winner's comments was referee David Gough, the GAA's first openly gay top-level match official.

Denouncing O'Rourke on social media, Mr Gough said: "The pejorative use of homophobic language on national TV is abhorrent and unacceptable. I'm disgusted."

In a statement last night, RTÉ said Mr O'Rourke and Mr Gough "have been in touch with each other privately on this matter", but the broadcaster did not comment further on the issue.

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Meanwhile, mental health campaigner and former Cork hurler Conor Cusack tweeted: "Not long after the GAA's first official participation in Gay Pride, the outdated label 'pansy boy' used on a GAA TV programme".

Others criticising the pundit's choice of words included Ciaran Deely, a former manager of the London GAA senior football team who now works with soccer side Queen's Park Rangers FC as a sports scientist.

Urging those who insisted the comments were "no big deal" to "grow up", he tweeted: "Homophobia takes many forms, and the normalisation of this type of language is one of them."

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