Glentoran chairman Aubrey Ralph has called for greater urgency in bringing the Football Offences Act into operation in Northern Ireland in a bid to halt unruly behaviour by supporters.

This comes after the Glens and Linfield were fined for the third and second time respectively this season by the Irish FA Disciplinary Committee over spectator conduct.

The Oval club were fined a total of £1,250 and given a severe warning about the actions of their fans while Linfield were hit with a £500 punishment for a similar offence.

The Glentoran chairman, who also represents the Premier League on a Security Steering Group, said: “I sometimes wonder why I am bothered having to come before the Disciplinary Committee to fork out money on behalf of morons.

“No matter what clubs try to do to prevent these incidents, there are those who simply don’t care and it needs the Football Offences Act to be put on the Statute Book here as soon as possible so that culprits will have to report to police stations on match days and face possible custodial sentences.

“I can’t make excuses for such people and I appreciate the IFA are working within certain parameters and do not have a lot of leeway to work with.

“Hopefully we can have the Act on the Statute Book within the next 12 months and we ask for help from the IFA to help bring this about. Glentoran are fed up to the back teeth with being fined for the actions of people over whom we have little or no control and who are not welcome at our club.”

The Glens were fined £500 for a missile made from steel and with a hook at the end being thrown from where Glentoran fans were housed in the game against Glenavon on September 15 at Mourneview Park.

A further fine of £750 was imposed arising out of the league game with Linfield at Windsor on October 17 when fireworks and flares exploded in the stadium and around the field of play.

Till rolls and coins were thrown from the North Stand by Glentoran fans while a plastic drinks bottle containing fluid was thrown from the stand behind the goal

housing Linfield supporters and landed in the vicinity of the assistant referee.

The Disciplinary Committee told the clubs they appreciated their efforts in trying to curb such behaviour and the difficulties involved for them.

Linfield secretary Ken Greer said: “While we fully appreciate that these incidents are taking place inside our ground and from a section of our own support, we honestly believe this is a reflection of the society in which we live.

“Clubs find it extremely difficult to find the balance between making the ground a welcoming, safe place for all and taking draconian measures which frustrate and annoy decent supporters.

“Perhaps instead of fining clubs for such incidents, the Disciplinary Committee could engage some expertise to assist clubs in making the game better for all.”

The committee sanctions are laid down under FIFA’S disciplinary code.

No further action was taken for alleged incidents involving a laser beam being shone at Linfield manager David Jeffrey and a plastic bottle in the Big Two Co Antrim Shield fixture at the Oval on September 29 due to lack of evidence and the Glentoran stewards moving immediately to deal with the laser incident which could not be specifically identified.

Also, an alleged coin-throwing incident at Ballyskeagh from the Linfield end in a game against Distillery was dismissed as there was no evidence to justify the claim.