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Glentoran v Linfield festive tie canned
Tuesday, 17 February 2009
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The Irish FA were today accused of killing Irish League football after the Disciplinary Committee at Windsor Avenue decided to wipe the biggest match in the domestic football calendar from the schedule until at least Christmas 2011.
In the wake of the crowd trouble that marred last year’s Linfield v Glentoran Belfast derby on Boxing Day, local football chiefs have outlawed holiday meetings, including the money spinning December 26 clash, between the sides for two seasons from August in an attempt to clean up the game.
Earlier in the season Linfield led 3-0 at Windsor Park when a seven-minute stoppage was needed as stewards failed to control crowd trouble before it was quickly quelled when riot police arrived.
That has led to the Big Two being hit where it hurts — in the pocket — as the festive attendances of some 10,000 (netting the home club in the region of £75,000) are unlikely to be repeated at any other time of the year.
Linfield and Glentoran have said they will be appealing the decision by the IFA Disciplinary Committee.
Both clubs were fined £1,000 after fireworks, bottles, coins and bricks were thrown during the game, as well as seats being broken and launched at opposing fans.
Linfield were also fined £750 for trouble that erupted during a league game with Cliftonville.
This year’s Boxing Day clash was due to take place at the Oval with Glens chairman Aubry Ralph furious that it may not go ahead.
“The Irish FA are charged with growing football in Northern Ireland, but they seem hellbent on killing it,” said Ralph.
“My challenge to the IFA is to wake up and smell the coffee because with decisions like this Irish League football is going to hell in a handcart.
“Of course we don’t want to see violence at football matches and we have roundly condemned the troublemakers, but the IFA decision is punishing thousands of people who did nothing wrong.”
On the appeal, Ralph issued a veiled threat, saying: “If we don’t get the action we require, I would say Premier League clubs would be considering their position in the IFA.”
Linfield chairman Jim Kerr was equally unhappy with the IFA decision.
He said: “We could not believe the decision. It was outrageous and we will appeal it.
“It is ridiculous that so many people can be punished due to 30 or so troublemakers.
“I wonder what the IFA marketing team, who are trying to promote the game here, think about this.”
A spokesperson for the IFA Disciplinary Committee said: “What happened at Windsor Park on Boxing Day was deemed to be a serious disturbance and something had to be done. We felt there was no use simply imposing fines and believe the decision made is ultimately to help and protect Irish League football.
“There were alternatives such as closing the grounds when Big Two games are played and ordering the matches to be played behind closed doors.
“It is worth remembering that bricks were thrown at the last Boxing Day game, seats were ripped up and the game was stopped for seven minutes. We’re not trying to kill football here, we are trying to protect it and show this behaviour will not be tolerated in the future.”
Linfield and Glentoran will want the appeal to take place a soon as possible.
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31 Comments
Come on ye Glens!
Posted by Glensfortheleague | 25.09.09, 11:47 GMT
Spot_on and Edward, obviously you are not fans of football otherwise you would not be making these silly suggestions. First off, if Linfield and Glentoran were made to play behind closed doors it would mark the end of Irish League football as no other team can bring the cash to the turn stiles that these clubs can. The Scottish FA have by no means eradicated trouble, check the scottish papers and the English FA held their nerve not allowing themselves to be dictated to by a minority of thugs. I suggest that Linfield enforce the use of outside security by all visiting clubs were there is a threat of violence, ensuring that the visiting clubs pick up the bill.
Posted by Joanne | 18.02.09, 17:41 GMT
peter
ata cost to the taxpayer? think you'll find the clubs pay for security
Posted by glentoran99 | 18.02.09, 15:52 GMT
The seven dwarves fall down a well and Snow White and Prince Charming are at the top of the well. They shout down, "Is everyone ok down there?", and the answer they receive, "Linfield will win the Irish league this year!", "Ah well", says Snow White, "at least Dopey is ok!!!!" HA HA HA come on ye Glens!!!
Posted by Homer | 18.02.09, 07:19 GMT
The input from Spot_On is finally one built upon common sense. This is not a new problem, however, every other team in the British Isles seems to have it under control. Why can't these two minor teams get their act together?
Is it because these supporters are complete low-life and cannot be rehabilitated? Is it because these two clubs do not care and think that by threatening the IFA they will get their way?
Let's assume that the answer to both of these questions is "No". Then go find out how other teams have done it, it's not a mystery! Check with Manchester City & Utd., with Liverpool & Everton, Rangers & Celtic, Arsenal & Spurs., etc. etc etc.
In the meantime, the clubs bear the responsibility of providing a safe environment for the "decent" supporters and the PLAYERS of both sides. This penalty is a slap on the wrist for both of these teams. I think the IFA should consider deducting points from these teams and then perhaps they will really take things seriously.
Posted by Edward | 18.02.09, 00:59 GMT
It's comical reading where the 'good' supporter is being punished with the bad. This hooliganism has been going on since the inception of the Irish League, and wouldn't be tolerated anywhere else. The 'good' supporter hasn't done a single thing to stop the trouble makers. As a matter of fact, every time it happens they say everyone else is to blame. You can even see that in some of the posts on here. The IFA hand down a £1000 find, that's a pittance when you compare it to the near half million they reportedly handed to Linfield last year.
They should be made to play these games behind closed doors, until they learn how to behave themselves in public.
Posted by Spot_On | 17.02.09, 21:58 GMT
The blame game will get us nowhere, can nobody see this? Kick-off times have been brought forward, players banned, fines dished out but none of these have solved this problem. Everybody knows the security at the matches these days is pathetic.
I am 26 years old, and have been following Glentoran for the guts of 20 of those. I remember when there really WAS trouble at a Blues-Glens game. I rememeber the police presence at these games and the extremely tense atmosphere. We have come a HUGE distance since then in my opinion. Why all of a sudden are these scandalous penalties handed out now?
I was ashamed to see the scenes of Boxing Day '08 as a Glens fan. But I know that these people do not represent the HUGE majority of Glenmen. How about we actually deal with the problem instead of penalising the genuine fans?
Posted by Erky23 | 17.02.09, 19:35 GMT
This match will have to be played on another date so the thugs can just come then and riot if they choose. Pathetic decision by the i.f.a. They are a bunch of clowns who should tour the country as a circus act. They haven't a brain between them as they have never promoted or helped the irish league in any shape or form ever. They are a total embarrassment to themselves and everyone else and should be removed from thier job and replaced by people who know what they are doing.
Posted by Terry Hamilton | 17.02.09, 18:34 GMT
Well done I.F.A. Now we can see were they get the material for all the Irish based jokes. Its about time that the I.F.A appointed a board that actually knows something about Irish League Football, instead of these idiots that have turned the game into a three ringed circus. The I.F.A stated on Ulster radio that "It is not a family day", how would they know? To the best of my knowledge they do not sit with the fans, if they attend matches. I attend all Linfield games with my two children, my parents, uncles and cousins, I call that a family day out.
There is footage of the idiots that caused the Boxing Day trouble find them and punish them, (just a wee hint, they were sitting in the North Stand), not the genuine fans of Irish League Football.
Posted by Joanne | 17.02.09, 17:50 GMT
david johnson, its true supporters like you who make it even better. if every football fan had a bit of pride in their area and put a little bit of the money they blow on foreign team shirts into their local club, tha game would gradually improve. spend 45 quid on a cities shirt that you have no affiliation with at all but wont spend a tenner to go see the local game
Posted by darren | 17.02.09, 17:33 GMT
When idiots cause trouble everybody looses.
This is the National Lampoon's Association which stumbles from one crisis to another with no plan and no vision.
This decision doesn't go far enough. At the end of last season Portadown were refused entry to the league for failing to submit an application on time, sad, but the right decision. As a result they have missed every game in the Premier League.
Linfield, Glentoran and the IFA have presided over violence and vandalism, all at a cost to the taxpayer as a result of extra security needed. Where was the adequate ground security, ticket management, policing policies? Not only should the game be stopped, there should also have been a like for like fine related to gate receipts and points deducted. Clubs are responsible.
Visit the Oddyssey guys and see how to run and manage a sporting event. Irish League football is a disaster from start to finish, and you want families to go...
Posted by Peter | 17.02.09, 17:18 GMT
Graemerz
I was at the CAS final, blues fans were throwing fireworks and other objects at the reds players as they left the pitch, I know a reds fan did the same (and I would accept losing the shield as punishment).
Your reply is typical of many football fans over here, 'my team isn't as bad as yours, we're not to blame etc....
As I've said below - this is the 2nd time the blues have been fined this season, they will be fined again for throwing a bottle at Eddie Patterson - thats 3 times their fans have been involved in throwing stuff during a match. Get your house in order, the blues have a problem and if they don't address it they should be banned.
Posted by Martin | 17.02.09, 16:53 GMT
why should two teams have the right to have a date cherry picked for a game, should the fixtures not be generated randomly anyway???
Posted by RB | 17.02.09, 16:12 GMT
'The Irish FA were today accused of killing Irish League football'
Ha - and this is news?
Its a mickey mouse league won almost every year by Linfield, the only club subsidised by the IFA through windsor park. This 'rent' money is supposed to go to upkeep but low and behold the NIE now needs to pump millions in to Windsor so it can pass basic safety standards! Throw in institutionalised sectarianism which forced big clubs such as Derry City and Belfast Celtic (which would have provided some competition) out and you have a league that died a long time ago!
Posted by mickey mouse | 17.02.09, 16:10 GMT
steve you should have signed that linfield hypocrite. both as bad as eachother and iv been at enough derby games to know thats the case.iv got a scar on the side of my head that says linfield fans are just as bad.
Posted by glens man | 17.02.09, 14:56 GMT
Martin....
CAS Final, a flare was lit in the Kop Stand. This happens at Northern Ireland games with the GAWA, when its the GAWA involved its "creating an atmosphere" when its Linfield supporters its "dangerous" The flare cost us £250. Cliftonville got the SAME fine for throwing a firework at a Linfield player. Tit for tat eh?
Boxing Day, After watching their team get a beating Glentoran supporters not for the first time in their history decided to tear up the North Stand and get the game stopped for 8 minutes until the riot police called in. BOTH teams got £1000 fine and Boxing Day has been cancelled.
Posted by Graemerz | 17.02.09, 14:06 GMT
how did the bricks get in, surely thats the job of security that the clubs pay to stop items like bricks bottles and fireworks getting to the ground
Posted by glentoran99 | 17.02.09, 14:03 GMT
I was at the match on Boxing Day and there can be no doubt that the trouble was started by Glens fans. I'm not trying to condone the idiots in the Kop Stand who retaliated - but what they did was nothing compared to the thuggery in the North Stand - why didn't the IFA take account of this?
Posted by Neil | 17.02.09, 13:17 GMT
Is this the first move to go to summer football as i cna see no other reason and this is going to be used as a excuse.
I go to all Linfield matches and agree there are supporters at certain games intent on trouble making but to stop the bigest amtch and crowd puller at local football is crazy but the so is the IFA.Mr Kennedy and co need to have a good look at themselves as they are dragging the game down not promoting it.
Posted by Russ n/abbey | 17.02.09, 12:59 GMT
Typical IFA. We see this time and time again. Their solution to crowd trouble is to reduce the numbers watching the game rather than get to the root of the problem. How will this stop any potential trouble? If you want to fight then you will regardless of the date. How many Boxing Days have been trouble free? Pretty much every one of them with this one exception.
Posted by chipclub | 17.02.09, 12:54 GMT
31 Comments