Crowd trouble at NI v Poland

**Pike B** · 30/03/2009, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by awec

What? Where did I say it was fine?

Saying that it was years since you last behaved in this manner doesn't excuse it.

**Mr_Parker** · 30/03/2009, 10:27 PM

Originally Posted by awec

Hmm indeed. There was NOTHING sectarian shouted at Boruc.

Boruc you're a w**ker, and the video I posted, is the height of it.

Got the occasional "Boruc, give us a wave", but other than it, nothing.

On other forums NI fans who were at the game have stated that while their was no mass chanting etc he was subjected to sectarian abuse from individuals.

As for the 'famine song' it was stated that it was not sung but that a version along the lines of "we're in recession why dont you go home" or similar was by small groups.

There is no doubt that there were a large group of Polish fans intent on trouble and they got what they wanted and were the main protaginists. There also some so-called NI fans who were 'up for it' and several innocent Polish fans, and NI fans who tried to defend them, got beatings in and around the ground.

The Poles intent on trouble, the poor levels of policing around the game and the willingness of some 'locals' to engage with both, as well as those forced to defend themselves from the Poles combined to leave a bad image imo.

**OneRedArmy** · 30/03/2009, 11:02 PM

Originally Posted by Pike B

Told my missus as I watched the match, 'Bet you there'll be trouble in Belfast tonight.'
Somehow there always is with you lot.

Originally Posted by Pike B

Saying that it was years since you last behaved in this manner doesn't excuse it.

Make up your mind

Most of the posts on this thread are tired stereotypes. I've no desire to follow Norn Ireland but I know enough people who will attest to the progress made.

I can guarantee many of the offended Boruc supporters, when the shoe is on the other foot (Rangers players playing against Ireland) would say there's no harm to it.

If anyone has any experience of Polish football or got close to their Ultras at the match in November, you'd know fairly quickly they are a nasty piece of work.

**awec** · 30/03/2009, 11:46 PM

Originally Posted by Mr_Parker

On other forums NI fans who were at the game have stated that while their was no mass chanting etc he was subjected to sectarian abuse from individuals.

As for the 'famine song' it was stated that it was not sung but that a version along the lines of "we're in recession why dont you go home" or similar was by small groups.

There is no doubt that there were a large group of Polish fans intent on trouble and they got what they wanted and were the main protaginists. There also some so-called NI fans who were 'up for it' and several innocent Polish fans, and NI fans who tried to defend them, got beatings in and around the ground.

The Poles intent on trouble, the poor levels of policing around the game and the willingness of some 'locals' to engage with both, as well as those forced to defend themselves from the Poles combined to leave a bad image imo.

Oh come off it Parker.

**awec** · 30/03/2009, 11:47 PM

Originally Posted by OneRedArmy

Make up your mind

Most of the posts on this thread are tired stereotypes. I've no desire to follow Norn Ireland but I know enough people who will attest to the progress made.

I can guarantee many of the offended Boruc supporters, when the shoe is on the other foot (Rangers players playing against Ireland) would say there's no harm to it.

If anyone has any experience of Polish football or got close to their Ultras at the match in November, you'd know fairly quickly they are a nasty piece of work.

Well said. It's good to see an honest post on the subject.

**SolitudeRed** · 31/03/2009, 1:51 AM

Originally Posted by awec

We have?

When was the last time there was trouble at a NI game?

Well was there not trouble over in Cardiff a few years back, It wasn't at the match but was there not fighting between the opposing fans at a bar after the match?

**bennocelt** · 31/03/2009, 7:48 AM

I think this is blown way out of proportion - the links show very little riotous behaviour - just a lot of angry men shouting and throwing bollards

what does Pike make of the booing of rangers players by irish fans - i wonder?

and isnt this football - not rugby - different fans with different set of coeds and rules - are we not allowed to take the pish anymore in chants?

**Gather round** · 31/03/2009, 8:00 AM

Originally Posted by Pike B

Told my missus as I watched the match, 'Bet you there'll be trouble in Belfast tonight.' Somehow there always is with you lot.

There isn't, unlesss you have any evidence to the contrary?

Originally Posted by Sandro

This picture tells most of the story

No it doesn't. Two footballers celebrating winning a football match is hardly the issue here?

Originally Posted by Pike B

Then your behaviour Saturday is just fine then?
You were due a bit of prejudice violence were you?

Spare me..

I'd be delighted to be spared reading you, Pike. Nobody has claimed that either

a) Saturday was just fine, or

b) anyone was due a bit of violence.

Stop stirring, eh?

Originally Posted by Pike B

Saying that it was years since you last behaved in this manner doesn't excuse it.

No-one's seeking to excuse it. He was only answering your false claim that it happens at every game.

Originally Posted by Mr_Parker

The Poles intent on trouble, the poor levels of policing around the game and the willingness of some 'locals' to engage with both, as well as those forced to defend themselves from the Poles combined to leave a bad image imo

Fair points. Do you know how the Police presence compared with other recent NI home games?

Originally Posted by OneRedArmy

Most of the posts on this thread are tired stereotypes. I've no desire to follow Norn Ireland but I know enough people who will attest to the progress made

Tsk. Cruel but possibly true. Can't speak for others on the thread, but I'd say consistent, factual answer to others' comments rather than stereotype

Originally Posted by SolitudeRed

Well was there not trouble over in Cardiff a few years back, It wasn't at the match but was there not fighting between the opposing fans at a bar after the match?

Didn't see or hear of any after the game (assuming you mean the 2-2 game in 2004). I saw a brief scuffle in the big open plan bar on the stadium side of St mary's St before the game- caused apparently by some local Cardiff (City) fans taking exception to Swansea's posse bringing a union jack over to a group of our fans.

The worst trouble I've ever seen at an Irish game in Cardiff was many years ago- 1997 I think. A senior poster on this site and of the London RISSC was threatened with a kicking by the Cork boys after spending the entire game shouting abuse at Roy Keane

Originally Posted by bennocelt

I think this is blown way out of proportion - the links show very little riotous behaviour - just a lot of angry men shouting and throwing bollards?

Plenty of witness accounts though. I don't think we can deny it shows NI football and the city of Belfast generally in a bad light abroad.

**Mr_Parker** · 31/03/2009, 10:24 AM

Originally Posted by awec

Oh come off it Parker.

What, are you calling the NI fans who were at the games liars

**Roadend** · 31/03/2009, 10:35 AM

Originally Posted by bennocelt

and isnt this football - not rugby - different fans with different set of coeds

Was it like the coed stuff I saw on the net, that was damn good entertainment

**Hibernian** · 31/03/2009, 12:07 PM

Having read all the posts here I think that we need to understand that there is only a small minority of fans from both sides who caused this trouble.

The northern Ireland fans created a fantastic atmosphere on Saturday and those chants and singing after the game is something we could learn from as ROI fans how get behind a team.

I was in the Big Tree on Saturday before game while the N.Ireland game was on and I must say there were few smart comments coming from a minority of ROI fans towards the the northern boys there accents tell they from from north themselves. My point is that if this had been other way around we be on there backs like we are right now about it.

In one instance when Evans scored there was a few boys at the back applauded and they got few dirty looks, one dirty look came from guy who was wearing a "premier league" football jersey with a foreign name player on the back.. There he was nodding in disgust at the boys for going for the north and then he (I presume he was going to game) had the arrogence to do what he did.

Im not trying to have a pop at my fellow Irish fans im just basically trying to point out that EVERY country has a few idiots who try to ruin and put a bad name on the rest of us..

The reason ROI fans are considered the best is that when we go to different countries we get the real fans the fans who enjoy the craic and they are the real fans who have led by example throughout the world how to enjoy themselves and are a credit to this island.

Yes the North irish should get heavy fine for the coin throwing with the linesman but it was only one stupid idiot that did this and im sure many 99% of Northern fans were well annoyed and upset by all this nonsense.

It seems to me like the Poland fans started it as of the nine arrested the whole lot were from there. Surley if there was Northern Boys causing trouble then they would have got arrested too. Mybe they had no other choice but to defend themsleves?

99% of people go to football games go for just that football and the love of there club or country.. as they say theres always one, and these must never win over the majority who love the game.

**Wangball** · 31/03/2009, 12:08 PM

In the Ireland U21 match against Spain the young Rangers lad Aaron Niguez came on as a late substitute and I can't recall him being booed once

**OneRedArmy** · 31/03/2009, 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by Wangball

In the Ireland U21 match against Spain the young Rangers lad Aaron Niguez came on as a late substitute and I can't recall him being booed once

Sectarian knuckledraggers don't make a habit of going to underage games IMO. They aren't bandwagon enough for them.

**cheifo** · 31/03/2009, 12:33 PM

The progress made by N.I. over the last ten years or so to remove the sectarian element frome home games has been great work and given their genuine fans their team back.

Nobody should live in fantasy land though and their is always going to be a minority who will let you down.

Lets go back to the "Love Ulster" riots a couple of years ago.All our hoolies were there in their Celtic tops making a bloody disgrace of us.

Boruc is an attention seeker and deserves to get stick.

There are a lot of people in the Republic who love to tut tut at this rather than having a mature/unbiased look at what went on.

I have spoken to people in Belfast and the trouble was blown out of proportion.

I could be wrong but I sense there is people on here who just don't like N.I fans being proud of and supporting their team.

As Dodge pointed out, Rangers players have got booed here so we should know to be careful to point out- while we are discussing NI affairs- we are aware from our own experience that these situations are always created by a minority of really dumb people.

BTW is it right the Polish fans responsible got a suspended sentence?

**Gather round** · 31/03/2009, 12:41 PM

Good points by Chiefo, ORA and Hibernian.

I also heard the Polish fans arrested were given suspended sentences. To be honest isn't this the norm throughout Europe? Unless the visiting team's hooligans are convicted of the most serious violence offences (murder or attempted, say), the local Police and courts will want to get them out of the country soonest.

**osarusan** · 31/03/2009, 12:50 PM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/foot...ls/7973647.stm

Irish Football Association President Raymond Kennedy said they would come down hard on so-called Northern Ireland fans who step over the mark.

Kennedy delivered his rebuke after the IFA has imposed a life ban on the fan who struck an official with a coin during the game against Poland.

Well done to the IFA, and well done to other fans who (apparently) identified him to the authorities.

Awec, you cannot categorically state there were absolutely no sectarian comments made by any fan during the game. Mr. Parker (or was it Gather Round) has pointed out that fans on other forums have said they did hear some sectarian comments. It doesn't mean everybody is tarred with the same brush, and it doesn't mean a return to darker days. If comments were made, it is just a couple of idiots making idiotic comments, probably to entertain themselves.

And ROI fans who seem to be enjoying these incidents from on top of their high horse should realise these things could happen anywhere, with ROI no exception.

**Gather round** · 31/03/2009, 1:19 PM

Originally Posted by osarusan

pointed out that fans on other forums have said they did hear some sectarian comments

I was watching on Sky TV and although they filter crowd noise I could hear the Sloop John B tune (whatever the words) and a long-standing chant of 'Artur Boruc you're a w*nker'.

I'd like to see the coin thrower prosecuted more than a 'lifetime' ban from a season ticket (which in any case doesn't stop him travelling away, or buying one-off tickets once the stadium is extended/ moved).

**micls** · 31/03/2009, 5:00 PM

Booing a player because he plays for Celtic/Rangers is ridiculous, booing Boruc cos he's a d*ck is fair enough. Im sure there were one or 2 sectarian comments from individuals, in the same way that Id be certain the same would happen about a Rangers player in Dublin. Every fanbase has ignorant, sectarian racist *****s, its simply a matter of statistics. I see nothing to suggest the NI fans were worse than anyone else

It seems clear from all reports that there was a substantial group of polish hoods who went looking to cause trouble. Anything Ive read seems to say that the locals who reacted violently were not at the game, given that the polish hooligans didnt have tickets this makes sense. It also makes the arguments of people who would love to blame NI fans for everything look silly.

Im sure there were a few NI fans that got involved unnecessarily, and they deserve the same treatment as the Polish scumbags but anyone who tries to claim the same wouldnt happen in Dublin if the Polish started wrecking the place like they did above is simply full of ****. Every town has people who are delighted with the chance to get involved with something like this.

The people who came to cause trouble dont care, theyl head home and carry one while the local Polish will have to deal with the aftermath. Theyre are tensions building already all over the UK and here between some locals and the foreigners 'stealing jobs'. This just adds fuel to those flames and there will be innocents caught in the middle.