Allianz’s continued sponsorship of the GAA has been a hot topic in the weeks leading up to the opening round of National League games.
The Hurling and Football Leagues both carry Allianz as title sponsors, and the insurance company’s branding features heavily on the hoardings around Croke Park.
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Their continued involvement in GAA circles has caused increasing controversy of late.
Last year, Allianz (through their German parent company) were among the companies named by UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese as being “complicit” in Israel’s continued occupation and genocidal warfare in Gaza.
The report alleged that Allianz were one of several companies to invest large sums in shares and bonds linked to Israel’s occupation, “partly as capital reserves but primarily to generate returns.“
Allianz’s association with the Israeli occupation has seen a movement grow within the GAA to see the company dropped as a sponsor.
Reports during the week suggested that the Dublin footballers would refuse to conduct interviews in front of Allianz hoarding through the duration of the National League, and there was a noticeable absence of branding associated with the company in several venues on the opening weekend.
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Allianz branding notably absent on opening National League weekend
At Tyrone v Kildare in Omagh, neither any reference to Allianz nor its logo appeared in the 23-page match programme produced for Tyrone GAA.
Not a single reference to Allianz – or appearance of its logo – in the 23 page programme for tonight’s #Tyrone #Kildare league game pic.twitter.com/tCJOkc4ssM
— Darran Marshall (@DarranMarshall) January 24, 2026
Later in the evening, a protest was held against Allianz’s involvement in the National League.
Pitchside hoarding holding Allianz’s logos was removed after the first half, while a protest was held on the pitch, as per BBC Northern Ireland’s Darran Marshall.
Protest at tonight’s game in Omagh calling for the end of the #Allianz sponsorship .
Two Allianz pitchside signs which were behind the goals during the first half have been removed. pic.twitter.com/XVc4NCWTyd
— Darran Marshall (@DarranMarshall) January 24, 2026
A football double-header took place at Croke Park, with Meath v Derry followed by Dublin v Donegal.
The involvement of Dublin would have drawn huge intrigue, given the reports surrounding the team earlier in the week, and Ger Brennan would conduct his pre-match interview in front of a plain white wall.
It was equally notable that Allianz hoarding was not produced for the post-match interviews from the first game.
Meath’s Jack Flynn was named Laoch na hImeartha after his side’s win over Derry, and TG4 conducted his interview without any Allianz backdrop.
The same was true after the second game on TG4, as Donegal beat Dublin. None of the post-match interviews were conducted in front of Allianz logos.
Allianz hoarding has routinely been produced as the backdrop to any interviews at league games down through the years.
RTÉ carried live coverage of the 7pm National Hurling League game between Tipperary and Galway, with Joe Canning and Liam Sheedy offering their perspectives on the situation.
“I don’t think it will be a distraction for the players,” Canning said.
I think some of them will be more invested than others.
What’s happening is wrong. I hope the GAA did their due diligence on it, unlike some other organisations did a few months ago in other aspects of Irish society.
I just hope that they did do it right and that they stand by it, that’s all we hope for really.
“It’s a hard one to call,” former Tipperary manager Liam Sheedy said.
“Ultimately, we’re all parents, we’re all family members, it’s awful to see what’s happening in Israel and Gaza. That’s not something anybody wants to see.
“The GAA, they did take their time, they have an ethics committee, they lingered on it for a number of weeks and they came with their decision. They put it back in to the management committee and there was a call made on it.
“You don’t know how close or how far away Allianz is, or where do you start and where do you finish. Certainly, it’s not an easy one to pick.
“If you look at the GAA, I think nobody does more for community and for people than the GAA does.”
Saturday’s events follow protests from fans at last Sunday’s All-Ireland senior club finals in Croke Park.
After both the hurling and football finals, a fan could be clearly seen on the TV broadcast behind the victorious captain holding up a sign which read, ‘Drop Allianz.’
18 January 2026; Dingle captain Paul Geaney lifts the Andy Merrigan Cup after the AIB GAA Football Senior Club Championship final match between Dingle of Kerry and St Brigid’s of Roscommon at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Allianz remain the title sponsors of both National Leagues, and their name has been carried by both TG4 and RTÉ during their coverage of the opening weekend.
However, it is clear that several counties have decided to take a stand against their continued involvement in the sport.
In December, a report from an Ethics and Integrity Commission led An Coiste BainistÃochta to opt against making any change to the current arrangement with Allianz.
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