Bernard Flynn claims that NPHET have a "massive" problem with the GAA over the recent revelations that inter-county teams have broken the training ban.
Four counties - Cork, Down, Dublin and Monaghan - were caught in the act and their managers have been suspended or are in the process of being suspended by Croke Park.
But former All-Ireland winner Flynn believes many other counties have also been training ahead of the restrictions being lifted next Monday.
"Honestly, I think the others are very lucky they haven’t been caught," said the Meath under-20 boss.
"There’s four that were and Dublin shocked me more than anybody else, I was just so surprised to see that.
"I know there’s more than that doing it - and they’re still doing it.
"That’s their own business. It personally wouldn’t bother me if I was a manager and someone else was doing it.
"But I’m shocked only four have been caught at this stage from the amount that are actually doing it.
"The rules are there and to see a county with 30 or 40 people and management brazenly training not even in pods of three or four, doing it so openly, you are just leaving yourself open.
"And yes, I think it has done a bit of damage. Those people who love to sit on the fence and maybe bash the GAA, they are really having a field day with it.
"But they’ve also done damage with the government - and NPHET more so than anything else.
"My inside sources tell me that NPHET have a massive issue with the GAA because of that and the celebrating after club matches last year are the reasons we are not back yet."
Flynn praised the work done by the GAA since the Covid crisis struck just over a year ago.
But he added: "We have shot ourselves in the foot.
"Personally I don’t think there’s any health risk when it’s outside, and they should be back in groups monitored and supervised.
"But I do think when the rule is there...we haven’t broken it and I won't be breaking it until whenever we are allowed back.
"What it has done is, the GAA bashers sitting there with time on their hands and with Covid more so, any little thing now they are on top of us or giving out.
"We have opened that door."
*Bernard Flynn features on Laochra Gael on TG4 this Thursday at 9.30pm.
