On the wider point here I think it's wrong to bring politics into football. People have their strongly held beliefs and that's fine, but there will be others there that will have opposing views. What happens if everyone starts bringing their politics to the game? It could get very messy. There's no need to bring it into football, there are plenty of other arenas to do that. At Harps we've always had players, fans and directors from across the communities (there was a website at one stage devoted to Harps and Rangers for example) and I'm glad that we've been able to focus on the club and on football rather than whatever people follow outside of it. Feck knows we find enough to row about without bringing politics in as well.
#NeverStopNotGivingUp
Given the huge TV exposure of the Champions League in particular, it is quite reasonable for UEFA to want to avoid games becoming a means of getting exposure for political views. It is questionable whether displaying a national flag of a FIFA member team should be categorised as political. However the SSA have clearly admitted in their idiotic statements that flying the Palestinian flag was intended to be a political statement.
"This was in no way a political statement... then spends the next 4 paragraphs explaining how it was a political statement and woe us is and it's not our fault."Originally Posted by White Horse
One read of it and you can tell clear as day who wrote it.
I never heard of FARE before but looking at it, it looks like a place for people to make unproven accusations with no recourse.
http://www.farenet.org/news/incident...are-july-2014/
July 2014 – UEFA Europa League: Ferencvárosi TC v Sliema Wanderers FCA group of Ferencvárosi TC supporters displayed far-right banners and performed Nazi salutes.
Details of the incident were passed to UEFA for action.
For the incidents in both first and second leg matches (01 and 10 July) against Sliema, UEFA sanctioned Ferencvárosi TC with a partial stadium closure for its next UEFA competitions match and a fine of 20 000€.
They've been at it for years...plenty of others they turn a blind eye to.
Its called showing solidarity with the people of Gaza. And football and politics are intertwined, its very naive to think its not. I could give a long list of clubs and their supporters that show thats the case
Should Liverpool fans, for instance, display a banner saying vote Labour at Champions League games?
But they shouldn't be interwined. Why only Gaza and not the Kurds, the Yazidi or the Iraqi Christians? There's conflicts going on in Ukraine, South Sudan and Nigeria. It might be PC gone mad or UEFA been over-protective but the SSA broke the rules and now Dundlak FC have to pay the price sadly.
I support same-sex marriage but I don't see the point of bringing a flag showing my support to Dalymount or the SoL. The same way I wouldn't bring a Bohs or SAFC flag to a march or a protest.
Yeah, next thing you know political elites who brutalise their people will be using Champions League clubs to launder their money and reputations, or something mad like that.
A leading authority on League of Ireland football since 2003. You're probably wrong.
Yes, but that's you.
Lots of other people feel differently, thankfully.
The other groups you mention, have been persecuted, but not like the Palestinians or for as long.
Last edited by ArdeeBhoy; 25/08/2014 at 6:46 PM.
Eh, they can if they want
You really have to ask that question?
I'll go with "What is a popular liberal cause/whoever heard of Kurdistan anyway?" for 200 Alex.
Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).
Hmm, that only makes limited sense...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEghu90QJH4
Dundalk FC statement:
http://www.dundalkfc.com/updated-statement/
Updated Statement
- By Dundalk FC
- • August 25, 2014
Dundalk FC
Dundalk Football Club would like to thank the many supporters who have contacted the club with supportive messages in the last three days. We share their deep concern over this serious incident.
As we stated on Saturday, we did not wish to comment on this matter until after we have received the full written judgement from UEFA. However, due to the unprecedented amount of interest in this issue we feel we need to make this statement.
We strongly encourage all Dundalk supporters to please allow the club to deal with this matter in the correct manner. We are concerned that any statement from any organisation that claims to represent any group of Dundalk supporters may be misinterpreted and could make this situation worse. In particular, we are concerned at any supporter(s) making direct contact with UEFA.
This situation arose because of the refusal of certain individuals to listen to our appeals at the Hajduk Split match to refrain from doing anything that may damage the club. Given that our original appeals were ignored, we would ask these individuals to listen to us now. Please allow us to deal with this matter without the fear that any supporter(s) may do something that could potentially make this worse or damage our chances of a successful appeal.
We share the concern of Dundalk supporters who fear that they are being misrepresented by a small group of individuals, a number of whom have been involved in other issues that have cost the club a lot of money in fines and who have attempted to create divisions between the club and supporters.
We are aware that this small group of people do not speak for Dundalk supporters and have no right to act on their behalf. We also appreciate that a number of fans who have been involved with this group have done so in good faith and have done nothing wrong. A number of supporters who were involved with this group are now distancing themselves from the ringleaders that have been causing on-going problems in Oriel Park.
From Dundalk FC’s point of view, we are distressed that these individuals are embroiling the club with the tragic situation in Gaza. We are football club, a non-political organisation, and we are doing our best to run the club to the best of our ability. Recently during the local elections, we refused to allow any political party to advertise in Oriel Park. However, we are aware that the club does not exist in a vacuum were outside issues have no impact on us all. Despite this, we are shocked that we are releasing a statement that has any connection with this tragic issue.
This long statement is an attempt to explain our problem right now. On one side we are being punished by UEFA. Dundalk FC do not believe that these flags are “political”, “inappropriate” or “illicit”. However, the debate on whether sport and politics is very complex and not one that we feel particularly qualified to make a judgement on. However, UEFA have their rules on this matter. We simply had no choice whatsoever but to respect the wishes of the UEFA delegate on the night who explained to us that due to the conflict that either Palestinian or Israeli flags have a political context and therefore should be removed immediately.
On the other side, we have been punished by the actions of a small group of individuals who ignored our appeals after the serious consequences of these actions were outlined to us by the UEFA delegate.
In fact, the match came within seven minutes of not even kicking-off and then, in the second-half, the game was very nearly stopped after the flags were displayed again on a number of occasions. This was after club officials explained the very serious ramifications of the use of these flags to these individuals. These individuals wilfully and deliberately ignored our appeals and we now find ourselves in this very difficult situation.
A number of supporters have contacted us to disassociate themselves from this group. We agree with the Dundalk supporters who have contacted us to encourage us to revisit our ground regulations and code of conduct to supporters. This has gone far enough.
The club has a lot of work to do in many areas. This issue is serving as a distraction from the many matters that the club’s volunteers and officials are required to deal with on a daily basis. It is now two years since the takeover of the club and we have come a long way and are enjoying a magnificent season. Yet despite our success, a small group of supporters have been continuously trying to undermine us and drive a wedge between the club and the supporters.
The club will await the written verdict from UEFA and then discuss our options with legal advisors. That is all we can do at this stage.
This issue may not be resolved any time soon. So, in the meantime, we want all Dundalk supporters to focus all of your attention on Friday’s match with Bohemians and getting behind our wonderfully dedicated players and staff as we face another tough match.
edit, bolding the clubs in the original statement, not my own
Last edited by colonelwest; 25/08/2014 at 8:18 PM.
Still doesn't explain the last part of NFB's post though.
Nor UEFA's continual double standards/hypocrisy. Dundalk should make representations to the CAS on that basis.
The appeal will be to UEFA, it is a long way from CAS yet for any representations to be made. I dont think it will go as far as CAS. The statement from the club indicates to me that they are waiting for details of the fine and presumebly the breakdown for the different issues. Then decide on what to do.
Dundalk have little or no chance of winning this on appeal, imo. The best they can hope for is for the fine to be reduced. I would assumes that the fine for the flag(s) is 10k out the 18k.
Last edited by Mr_Parker; 25/08/2014 at 10:30 PM.
How the people of Gaza which is being bombed to bits tonight would wish their cause/plight was popular.
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