GAA players wearing substandard or counterfeit helmets may not be covered for injuries picked up while playing the sport.
It comes as the GAA and Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) issued a joint warning over fake Gola-branded helmets that pose a risk to players' safety.
Gola is an English sports manufacturer that does not make GAA helmets.
The GAA found these helmets do not meet basic PPE standards, with some having sharp edges and protruding screws.
Insurance
Chairperson of the Gaelic Games Helmet Work Group Jim Bolger said players may not be covered by insurance when wearing such a helmet.
“Players have a personal responsibility to wear a helmet that meets the required standard,” he said.
"If there is a player injured when wearing a substandard helmet, or a helmet that’s integrity has been adversely impacted, our injury scheme may no longer apply in that instance.”
Do you have a 'Gola'-branded #GAA helmet? You should stop using it immediately.
❌ Gola do not make GAA helmets but counterfeit 'Gola' branding has been added to retro-styled helmets.
⚠️ They're not safe to use and will not protect you from injury.
👉 https://t.co/bkFr9XkbVe pic.twitter.com/fgCQCj7tUc
— CCPC (@CCPCIreland) December 18, 2023
Mr Bolger said this also applies to the trend of modifying licensed helmets.
“We have records of serious injuries where players had modified the helmets themselves," he said.
“They would particularly modify the face guard by removing bars or putting a lighter faceguard onto the helmet.
“When you interfere and adversely impact the integrity of the helmet, you are exposing yourself to more risk, more potential of harm, and more injury for yourself.”
Licensed products
The companies approved by the GAA to manufacture helmets are Micro, Coopers, O’Neill’s, Azzurri, Marc and Atak.
Mr Bolger said he is unsure where the popularity of fake and unlicensed Gola helmets came from.
“I don’t know what the attraction is but there is some attraction there at present,” he said.
“If you take the Gola branded helmet, Gola doesn’t even manufacture these helmets anymore, they used to back in the day.
“Something seems to have caught on that players are becoming attracted to this sort of retro helmet and we are trying to warn against that.”
Mr Bulger added that players may be exposed to “facial injuries, eye injuries, and concussions” if they wear helmets that do not meet the GAA’s safety standards.
Reporting by Breda Forrest.
