Probe into mass brawl at local football match

Local & National

Tempers flare at the end of Saturday's Irish League match between Ballymena United and Lisburn Distillery at the Ballymena Showgrounds

The beautiful game? You're having a laugh

Monday, March 24, 2008

An investigation is due to be launched following the violent scenes which marred an Irish league football match at the weekend.

Players, officials and fans became embroiled in trouble as tempers flared after Ballymena United took on Lisburn Distillery at The Showgrounds on Saturday.

The game ended in a two-all draw but as both teams were making their way from the pitch, fans launched a number of missiles - including a metal chair and an uncooked animal bone - at the players.

Distillery manager Paul Kirk clashed with his Ballymena counterpart Tommy Wright at the end of the game, which saw the visitors scoring the equalising goal nine minutes into injury time.

And an ambulance had to be called to take Ballymena goalkeeper Paul Murphy to hospital following an earlier altercation on the pitch.

He was treated for concussion and a suspected broken jaw.

In addition, referee Mark Courtney has to wait for half an hour to be escorted off the pitch by four PSNI squad cars.

Officials from the Irish FA are expected this week to launch an investigation into events that unfolded at the Showgrounds.

Chief executive Howard Wells said last night: "We have asked the referee for a full report on what happened.

"It doesn't portray a good image of the game in Northern Ireland and we will do everything possible to get to the bottom of who caused the trouble.

"When supporters throw missiles onto the pitch it is very serious and there will be a thorough investigation into why, and how, this happened."

Following Saturday's trouble, Distillery's Paul Kirk called for fences to be erected at the players tunnels.