Riot police deal with hooligan fans as Linfield beat Glentoran
Friday, 26 December 2008
Glentoran fans are restrained by stewards at Windsor Park in Belfast yesterday as fans of the east Belfast club clashed with Linfield supporters. Some fans broke through the exclusion barrier separating rival followers
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Local football chiefs will once again launch an inquiry into violent scenes at a Glentoran v Linfield match after police had to be called to quell clashes at today’s annual Big Two Boxing Day meeting at Windsor Park.
The Irish FA will examine the referee’s report and gather information from security staff as Linfield beat their Belfast rivals 3-0.
It is the latest in a line of meetings between the clubs that have been marred by crowd trouble.
There were problems at the same Boxing Day game at Windsor Park two years ago and the most infamous game between the clubs in recent years was the April 23 match in 2005 at the Oval when fans rioted on the pitch after former Linfield striker Chris Morgan scored a winner for Glentoran.
Yesterday around 70 Glentoran fans — in a crowd of almost 10,000 — broke through a security cordon intended to stop them from occupying seats on the bottom deck of the North Stand in close proximity to Linfield supporters and proceeded to throw missiles at Blues fans in the Kop Stand.
A series of objects were then thrown between the rival sets of fans, with stewards powerless to break up the violence.
Fireworks were also thrown, coming less than two months after Linfield player Conor Hagan was hit by one just seconds after the final whistle in the County Antrim Shield final defeat by Cliftonville.
Referee Michael McLaughlin stopped the match at half-time.
After a seven-minute delay the match recommenced, but only when police officers in riot gear appeared on the scene.
“I’m not going to criticise Glentoran Football Club or the genuine supporters, but there are people who will connect themselves to any club,” said Linfield manager David Jeffrey.
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I was a neutral at the game who was pretty disturbed at a lot of what went on. I found the whole experience completely shocking. The fans fighting was one element, the sectarian chanting an singing of loyalist songs was another. I was disturbed watching grown men abuse the Glentoran board and players in the directors box the whole way through the game with personal and vulgar insults. It was a pretty stomach churning event for me, I didnt enjoy it and sat on my hands until the final whistle then breathed a sigh of relief that I was going home. What a pity an investigative journalist doesn't go into the crowd in the same way they have done with the Old Firm and expose this sectarian and hooligan cancer that exists in our local game. Until its exposed and eradicated families won't go to game
Posted by John, Belfast. | 29.12.08, 17:29 GMT
How would docking points from either club effectively deal with these idiots? They don't care about Glentoran or Linfield.
Posted by Jim | 29.12.08, 03:10 GMT
Nothing will happen to prevent these kind of outrages, as long as the IFA fail to take any action against the said clubs. There was trouble at the first game of the season between Cliftonville and Linfield. Has either club got punished? Nope, but in any other football jurisdiction in the world, the clubs involved would have been punished.
Posted by Spot_On | 28.12.08, 20:56 GMT
A disgrace to the true fans of the local game. The 'iditots' who caused this trouble should be dealt with through the justice system and not just barred from local football etc. I was at the game on Saturday, the first Irish league game i have attended in years. It left a very bitter taste in my mouth.
In relation to the trouble, I feel the PSNI should be praised for how they handled the trouble once they arrived but what took them so long?
Posted by Mark | 28.12.08, 00:16 GMT
The scenes on Boxing Day only confirm the reason why I stopped attending Irish league football. Having witnessed the violence during the April 2005 game at the Oval with my son, I have attended few games since, (sad really, because that was a great advertisement for the local game pre the trouble). In recent years, clubs have made a genuine effort to make this a family sport, - all the hard work and personal effort by so many individuals is being destroyed by so few. I dread to think what impact and image this would have left nationally, had it been one of the Sky Sports live games!
To those who took part in this mindless violence - take a deep look at yourself and do some serious soul searching - is this what your life is all about?? Sad - so very sad.
Posted by KT | 27.12.08, 21:49 GMT
i hope everyone realises that these people (scum) dont represent glentoran and only come to matches were there is a chance of a bit of trouble.surely the clubs should go back to the policy of season ticket holders getting the tickets to away matches instead of any scum being able to get tickets,or even an identity card basis so that trouble makers can be identitified.i know that money is the major factor in these decisions but by the time you count the cost of damage to the ground and the damage to the clubs ,as when the trouble started most of the supporters with kids left and will probably not be back,i say kick these scumbags outa the game forever name and shame them so that real supporters know who they are....
Posted by sam | 27.12.08, 10:31 GMT
Scum who are helping to destroy Irish league football after the first positive season in years. Linfield have had this rabble for years with the Glens not far behind. I hope the league dock points from both clubs. Funny how Cliftonville and the Crues can play without any trouble.
Posted by Hatchetman | 27.12.08, 08:11 GMT