Celtic Cup thread

**co. down green** · 19/02/2011, 8:11 PM

Ballymena United defender Denver Gage is at the centre of an IFA inquiry into the singing of sectarian songs at the Northern Ireland v Scotland game.

On Saturday Ballymena confirmed someone connected with the club was reported to have been involved in the incident.
A video has been posted on the internet showing fans singing the songs at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
BBC Sport understands Gage has been identified and could be banned from Northern Ireland home matches for life.
On Friday the Irish Football Association said it had the name of a person involved and that they would be punished if their identity was confirmed.

The association also appealed for information on all those who sang sectarian songs at the match which took place on 9 February.

The IFA has been working with the Amalgamation of Northern Ireland Supporters' Clubs and other relevant bodies to investigate the complaints.

Ballymena United's spokesman said: "It would be premature for us to add to speculation, but we wish to state that we have been in contact with, and are co-operating with, the Irish FA until such times as the allegations are confirmed or otherwise.
"Ballymena shall be making no further comment while the matter is under investigation.

Denver represented the IFA team in the regions cup a couple of years ago

**ArdeeBhoy** · 19/02/2011, 11:17 PM

He'll be quite lucky if he escapes with a life ban for their home games.....

**Sullivinho** · 19/02/2011, 11:27 PM

'Denver Gage'. What's this fella doing lounging about singing sectarian ditties. That's a name that'l get you places in Hollywood.

**The Fly** · 20/02/2011, 12:37 AM

Originally Posted by Sullivinho

'Denver Gage'. What's this fella doing lounging about singing sectarian ditties. That's a name that'l get you places in Hollywood.

Unfortunately for him they don't make B-movies anymore,.......or perhaps you meant Holywood, Co Down.

**awec** · 20/02/2011, 11:40 AM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

I can only make out F bobby sands in that "song", what else are they saying? Is that EG in the background with a scarf? They are acutely aware of the garda siochanna as well in the background.

Can you imagine the uproar if we went up to windsor park singing F the queen and the UDA or the likes. The thing is you wouldn't hear them being sung any where and rightly so.

And there is not a minority there, as people walk through they get involved, laughing and taking videos etc. I'm sure they felt big in a group, in the Irish Republics soccer stronghold to let off some steam. Its a pity the guards didn't actually arrest them, they were inciting hatred after all, directly towards those guards present - "fenians".

Not a minority? 40 people in a crowd of 6000+ is not a minority? Really?

Apologies for resurrecting this topic, but this made me laugh.

**awec** · 20/02/2011, 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by Mr_Parker

Myself and EG may have had our spats on here, but I will back him up on this, it is wrong to even jokingly associate him with such people. It does seem that names have been put to several of the individuals on that video and no doubt the IFA will take action in regards to them when it comes to future ticket distribution.

So let me get this straight, it's wrong to wrongly associate EG with these individuals, but you're more than happy to spread lies and nonsense about the rest of the Northern Ireland fans and these supposed riots you were talking about?

Funny that.

**Mr_Parker** · 20/02/2011, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by awec

So let me get this straight, it's wrong to wrongly associate EG with these individuals, but you're more than happy to spread lies and nonsense about the rest of the Northern Ireland fans and these supposed riots you were talking about?

Funny that.

Where did I say there were riots? I quoted the contents of a radio broadcast and none of those made reference to a riot. Subsequent testomies by those in attendance, including many NI fans have born out those events and more.

**awec** · 20/02/2011, 12:34 PM

Originally Posted by Mr_Parker

Where did I say there were riots? I quoted the contents of a radio broadcast and none of those made reference to a riot. Subsequent testomies by those in attendance, including many NI fans have born out those events and more.

And your attempts to mislead everyone by deliberately posting a completely unrelated picture? As far as I'm concerned now you can shove your sucking up, you've shown yourself for what you really are.

**Mr_Parker** · 20/02/2011, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by awec

And your attempts to mislead everyone by deliberately posting a completely unrelated picture? As far as I'm concerned now you can shove your sucking up, you've shown yourself for what you really are.

My posts are there for all to read. So are the testomies of NI fans here and elsewhere.

**Lionel Ritchie** · 20/02/2011, 12:43 PM

They've banned him ...though according to some on OWC he's not actually singing in that vid.

In fairness to the NI supporters they're howling for more to be banned over on their board and are asking for people to identify them. It's also been pointed out, quite reasonably, that there isn't a whole lot the IFA, ANISC or anyone else can do about policing those who come along purporting to support them if the FAI/Aviva are going to sell tickets to these games through the likes of Ticketmaster like it's disney on ice.

**SolitudeRed** · 20/02/2011, 2:13 PM

Originally Posted by Lionel Ritchie

They've banned him ...though according to some on OWC he's not actually singing in that vid.

In fairness to the NI supporters they're howling for more to be banned over on their board and are asking for people to identify them. It's also been pointed out, quite reasonably, that there isn't a whole lot the IFA, ANISC or anyone else can do about policing those who come along purporting to support them if the FAI/Aviva are going to sell tickets to these games through the likes of Ticketmaster like it's disney on ice.

According to a workmate who is a memeber of a SC and was down at the match Ticketmaster were only selling tickets for a neytral section of the ground which was away from the NI and Scotland fans, so is it really fair to heap all the blame on ticketmaster? even he didn't think it was.

**Lionel Ritchie** · 20/02/2011, 3:13 PM

I take your point SR. Some of them over on the NI board have pointed out that some of the guys in that video are in likely in SCs and are regulars at WP. But they are indeed calling for them to be spewed out.

As for ticketmaster - the problem there is that even if the IFA identified and banned them all there is still this route into the games available to them and any other messer of whatever hue.

**awec** · 20/02/2011, 10:50 PM

The fact that ANYONE can go on to ticketmaster and buy something like 50 tickets at a time negates any sort of ticketing procedures that could be put in place for the game.

Tickets shouldn't be sold through ticketmaster, they should be sold through the IFA and the FAI only.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 21/02/2011, 6:22 AM

The whole point is if you didn't have these archaic colonial outposts then people wouldn't behave like mutants in the first place??

**Gather round** · 21/02/2011, 6:26 AM

Ardee Bhoy, in his home town of Worcester yesterday:

**gastric** · 21/02/2011, 8:56 AM

So Gather Round, when are you, Ealing Green and Mr Parker going to stop your constant trolling? Yours is mostly delusional and heads in the sand stuff! I await a creative, imaginative and Walter Mitty type reply.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 21/02/2011, 9:48 AM

Exactly.
The only trolls on here, besides the usual misguided information, all seem to come from that particular colonial theme park....

**SwanVsDalton** · 21/02/2011, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy

Exactly.
The only trolls on here, besides the usual misguided information, all seem to come from that particular colonial theme park....

Seriously? Feigning innocence while writing 'colonial theme park'? You are the Iago of 'trolling this thread'.

Can we get back to football? Agreed on the Ticketmaster point - I'd hope authorities are aware of the dangers of open sale when it comes to the ROI vs NI game.

**shakermaker1982** · 21/02/2011, 11:54 AM

Does anybody think there will be any trouble when the two sides meet? Haven't we all moved on? If it does kick off then that is the end of the Carling/Celtic cup.

**Predator** · 21/02/2011, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by shakermaker1982

Does anybody think there will be any trouble when the two sides meet? Haven't we all moved on? If it does kick off then that is the end of the Carling/Celtic cup.

I read in the Sunday Times that NI fans will be surrounded by stewards during the game. Is there any truth to this?