goal online here: https://twitter.com/BBCSPORTNI/statu...33233618538496
Is it usual that they don't play the anthems before these games or did the authorities decide to skip them just for tonight's fixture for some reason?
Last edited by backstothewall; 19/09/2017 at 10:04 PM.
Bring Back Belfast Celtic F.C.
Safety concerns - http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/41332126
IFA kop out. The UEFA delegate hands were tied and had to give the decision. If the IFA had stated that they were not going to give into sectarianism/xenophobia, then he would have supported them. The PSNI would in turn be duty bound to put measures in place to deal with any so-called threat. It was any easy out.
It will be interesting to see what potentially happens in the future, when the IFA have decisions to make on anthems and flags, especially given there statements and meetings with political parties pre and post the 2013 Irish Cup final. Not that I'm suggesting IFA double standards.....
Aye, agree it was "easy"- or at least easier that filling the ground with Police officers. The thing is, there is a range of direct and other costs, and for the second option they're likely higher.
The same (no flags or anthems) happening in future must be likely. Ideally they'll take advice from the Police and ignore Andree Murphy and Nelson Mancausla (or whoever speaks for the Shinners and Dupes now they don't bother talking to local media direct).It will be interesting to see what potentially happens in the future, when the IFA have decisions to make on anthems and flags, especially given there statements and meetings with political parties pre and post the 2013 Irish Cup final. Not that I'm suggesting IFA double standards.....
Point taken on double standards
Last edited by Gather round; 20/09/2017 at 2:20 PM.
What would they need to be filling the ground with police for? This is baffling.
Deploying the cops is a predictable and reasonable response to the threat of public disorder.
Not using potentially contentious flags and emblems similarly- and likely cheaper (in broad terms) as I suggested.
What's to baffle? This is hardly unprecedented at sporting events in NI.
Did someone (or some group) threaten to endanger people's safety/lives (within the ground?) if the tricolour was flown and 'Amhrán na bhFiann' was played?
That's the implication of reports today which mentioned safety concerns.
It's not unprecedented but surely you'd expect such carry on not to occur a match attended by a few hundred people, many of them kids, where the flying of flags is not only commonplace but normally mandatory. I know people up there are obsessed with flags but I thought at least some people would take a day off.
2 points
#1 None of this has anything to do with the IWNT
#2 As someone who was at the game i was quite pleased with the flegs/anthems approach taken by the organisers. I took my daughter along to what turned out to be a friendly family event. The last thing I wanted was to be witness to a political row. I honestly didn't give a damn if they had the flags, didn't have the flags, or attempted to prove John Hume wrong by eating the flags.
The number of comments made about flags vs the number of comments made about a good 2-0 win for the girls in... err... white would suggest the obsession with flags doesn't miraculously end somewhere between Crossmaglen and Carrickmacross
Bring Back Belfast Celtic F.C.
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