IFA out to kill off the biggest game of a season

**Mr_Parker** · 17/02/2009, 12:41 AM

Scandelous punishment.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sp...-14190694.html

**Sheridan** · 17/02/2009, 12:54 AM

I'm sure the IFA would have been perfectly happy to administer a slap on the wrist, I'd imagine what happened was that the cops put the squeeze on them. It's a very bad idea for a club or body to defy the police, they have long memories and can make things very difficult. The policing costs, necessary or otherwise, for this year's game would have taken a fair chunk out of that 100k.

**dcfcsteve** · 17/02/2009, 9:00 AM

The clubs do not to accept some responsibility here (especially the home side), but in my view the Police were most at fault for the episode at the last St Stephen's Day game.

It took them almost ten minutes to turn-up, and as soon as they did it all stopped. There's only so much stewards can do.

**holidaysong** · 17/02/2009, 12:29 PM

Glentoran chairman Aubrey Ralph has said that Premier League clubs might consider leaving the Irish Football Association to form a breakaway league.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/foot...sh/7894847.stm

**jinxy lilywhite** · 17/02/2009, 2:01 PM

In all fairness if clubs can't control their supporters then they have no recourse on the punishment served. Even though it was probably a small minority of supporters steps have to taken to punish the clubs for failure to control their supporters. Fines are arbitary in that both clubs could probably easily of paid for it out of the gate and it probably isn't the only time this has happened over the history of the fixture. People need to be hit where it hurts and a temporary ban on the fixture seems sufficient.
I think the punishment fits the crime

**gufc2000** · 17/02/2009, 2:07 PM

Originally Posted by holidaysong

Glentoran chairman Aubrey Ralph has said that Premier League clubs might consider leaving the Irish Football Association to form a breakaway league.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/foot...sh/7894847.stm

Time for the annual All-Ireland League proposals to swing into gear again

**David** · 17/02/2009, 3:08 PM

Originally Posted by jinxy lilywhite

In all fairness if clubs can't control their supporters then they have no recourse on the punishment served. Even though it was probably a small minority of supporters steps have to taken to punish the clubs for failure to control their supporters. Fines are arbitary in that both clubs could probably easily of paid for it out of the gate and it probably isn't the only time this has happened over the history of the fixture. People need to be hit where it hurts and a temporary ban on the fixture seems sufficient.
I think the punishment fits the crime

It is quite frankly a bizaare decision. This is the biggest league game anywhere on this island and one that regular attracts five figure crowds, the only fixture anywhere north or south to do so. What then do the IFA do, they ban the most lucrative fixture of the season. Crazy. Incidentally this is the first there has been trouble at the Boxing Day fixture in many years. There has been much more serious trouble at other fixtures between the two so can anyone explain the logic in such an action?

**dcfcsteve** · 17/02/2009, 3:27 PM

Originally Posted by jinxy lilywhite

In all fairness if clubs can't control their supporters then they have no recourse on the punishment served. Even though it was probably a small minority of supporters steps have to taken to punish the clubs for failure to control their supporters. Fines are arbitary in that both clubs could probably easily of paid for it out of the gate and it probably isn't the only time this has happened over the history of the fixture. People need to be hit where it hurts and a temporary ban on the fixture seems sufficient.
I think the punishment fits the crime

Will the Police also get fined for not doing their job properly and enabling a situation of handbags to escalate....?

**AnnaghRed** · 17/02/2009, 4:59 PM

Apparently H&S regulations prevented the police from being kitted up to deal with any trouble, hence the delay while they donned their super-duper robo-cop gear

Police seem pretty toothless these days unless they spot you doing 45 in a 40 zone.

**Krstic** · 17/02/2009, 8:49 PM

Fair play to the IFA, it's about time Linfield and their hooligan element were punished. At the end of the day it's not as if this was a one off, especially for that fixture.

**MariborKev** · 17/02/2009, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by David

It is quite frankly a bizaare decision. This is the biggest league game anywhere on this island and one that regular attracts five figure crowds, the only fixture anywhere north or south to do so. What then do the IFA do, they ban the most lucrative fixture of the season. Crazy. Incidentally this is the first there has been trouble at the Boxing Day fixture in many years. There has been much more serious trouble at other fixtures between the two so can anyone explain the logic in such an action?

Cracker wan.

Last Boxing Day game to have a five figure attendance?

**Graemerz** · 17/02/2009, 11:36 PM

http://southstandsays.co.uk/cmsv2/in...=179&Itemid=29

http://southstandsays.co.uk/cmsv2/in...d=180&Itemid=1

Two seperate articles here, both well written.

**David** · 18/02/2009, 7:52 AM

Originally Posted by Maribor

Cracker wan.

Last Boxing Day game to have a five figure attendance?

Two months ago.

**Mr_Parker** · 18/02/2009, 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by David

Two months ago.

Only an approximate figure was issued for that game. It seems Linfield are dragging their heels on confirming the number. The approximate number given was a four figure number, not five. ie 9,500.

**MMVIII** · 18/02/2009, 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by Krstic

Fair play to the IFA, it's about time Linfield and their hooligan element were punished. At the end of the day it's not as if this was a one off, especially for that fixture.

But, it was the Glentoran fans who started this incident? They were the ones throwing the seats?

**osarusan** · 18/02/2009, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by Graemerz

http://southstandsays.co.uk/cmsv2/in...=179&Itemid=29

http://southstandsays.co.uk/cmsv2/in...d=180&Itemid=1

Two seperate articles here, both well written.

To be honest, I read both and they are woefully written.

That said, the IFA need to be made explain how this option was chosen above other possible options.

**Graemerz** · 18/02/2009, 12:49 PM

Linfield chairman for once has something good to say....

http://www.linfieldfc.com/interview.asp?inv=456

**David** · 18/02/2009, 2:16 PM

Originally Posted by Mr_Parker

Only an approximate figure was issued for that game. It seems Linfield are dragging their heels on confirming the number. The approximate number given was a four figure number, not five. ie 9,500.

Linfield chairman gives a five figure number in his statement issued today:

http://www.linfieldfc.com/interview.asp?inv=456

**dancinpants** · 18/02/2009, 5:13 PM

Originally Posted by David

Linfield chairman gives a five figure number in his statement issued today:

http://www.linfieldfc.com/interview.asp?inv=456

"10,000 or so" - so definitive.

**MariborKev** · 18/02/2009, 5:43 PM

Originally Posted by Mr_Parker

Only an approximate figure was issued for that game. It seems Linfield are dragging their heels on confirming the number. The approximate number given was a four figure number, not five. ie 9,500.

Now now Mr P.

You know how this goes- the rest of us post first hand accounts, facts and other reputable sources.

Linfield fans continue the fantasy of five figures crowds.

Just let them have it.

I've been at the last few Boxing Day games and there hasn't been a five figure crowd in a while......