Jaysus Wept- some of the stupid faux outraged comments on this!
6 fine goals by Dundalk tonight to sweep aside Linfield.Brilliant display by the Lilywhites to round off a magnificent year.
Bob Bensons prob the best of the half-dozen we put past them.
Him announcing he's leaving us is prob the worst thing that happened in OP tonight.
I'm praying for a lot of yee,any wonder LOI fora are totally screwed these days when you see the crap that's going on in here.
I have to view this “sectarian chanting” stuff in a different light to everyone else here as regards it’s impact on a possible AIL.
Surely if the main gripe as regards fans following two games between Dundalk and Linfield is merely some chanting and half a dozen flags (and that is not to condone either of those) then this bodes well for an AIL in the near future?
In the not so distant past the genuine concern was violence not chanting, in fact I wonder without social media acting as the fuel to the fire how much airtime some chants would actually get.
Not nice but it’s a football game, no big deal in my opinion and certainly a gross over reaction to say in it any way puts paid to hopes of or plans for an AIL.
Surely the Sun will be apoplectic with rage on the de-railing of a New Ireland nation and AIL that occurred last night?
Nope, it seems Owen Cowzer missed it too
https://www.thesun.ie/sport/football...box=1573526941There were justified concerns that the clash could be marred by sectarian chanting after a small minority made their voices heard during Friday’s first leg at Windsor Park.
If anything, Oriel Park was a little quiet.
That bodes well for the future of either this competition or a potential all-island league.
Did anyone on here honestly expect that there would be no sectarian chanting? It was an Irish border town vs the biggest team from NI, football is tribalistic and there is 2 fairly significant tribes these 2 sets of fans belong to. I thought the match was a great occasion, fair play to the massive number of Linfield fans for travelling down, I joined in the chanting (nothing too outrageous just the usual Celtic Symphony and a few funny passport jibes, I've far more offensive ones, usually reserved for Drogs & Shams), had a great time and was delighted to see there were no incidents of violence before or after the match. To claim OUTRAGE and that the concept of an All-Island League is dead because of a few songs is an absolute joke and virtue signalling at best. People who use this as reason to derail the AIL never had any interest in it in the first place, the final score is probably a bigger deterrent to IL clubs than any songs or flags. Anyway Dundalk FC Champions of All-Ireland, what a season that was despite the FAI Cup disappointment, roll on next season!
Mon the Town!
I was surprised at how many people were triggered on social media last night.
We live on a divided island that has an unresolved political issue. If you look at any comparable area with a geo-political conflict, the fact that the game could be held safely, with mutual goodwill being extended by the vast majority of attendees was a positive sign.
I don't know whether the outrage is due to the influence of the snowflake generation or an opportunity being grasped by those opposed to an all island league.
Probably a bit of both. Also, add in the disdain some other fans feel for Dundalk fans.
In my opinion, for some it is probably a genuine abhorrence of anything sectarian.
For many more, I think it is the social media induce snowflake mentality of wanting to be offended or outraged - there are many double standard hypocrites in this category.
And then there are those who identify with other tribes (clubs) who are envious or jealous of a rivals success.
The vast majority who fall into the latter categories claim (and maybe even believe) they are in the first category
Last edited by Real ale Madrid; 12/11/2019 at 9:23 AM.
I think some are missing the bigger picture. In the NIFL, there have been year on year improvements in dealing with supporter behaviour, particularly with offensive chants and banners. Yes it pops up now and again, but it is the exception, not the rule. When it does occur, clubs are generally quick to take action to deal with those responsible. E.g. Cliftonville played Linfield twice recently. At the first game there were issues which both clubs attempted to deal with on the night, but in the middle of a game it is not always to do more than minimise such, as it can inflame a situation. However, for the next game action was taken, including the identification of some of those involved and several were refused entry. There were no such issues at the 2nd game.
With all the talk of an AIL, many were looking to see the 2 games between Linfield and Dundalk as a sort of measure of a potential future league, both on and off the pitch. The off pitch issues have and will be focussed on by supporters of a losing team. That is natural and happens over all sorts of issues, not just offensive songs etc. Therefore what has happened has been viewed by many as a microcosm of what an AIL might hold. People focus on Linfield given the past, but there are other clubs who if playing in an AIL could give rise to bigger reactions/issues to their presence at a LOI ground. Therefore, many view that an AIL could reignite many of the issues that have been nearly extinguished in the NIFL.
However, the football on the pitch aside, from reading their comments post last night, it was not the songs that did most damage to support from Linfield supporters, and indeed many other NIFL team supporters, for an AIL, it was how they were treated like cattle just to go to a game. They had to meet in Banbridge at 4pm. Then they had to get on buses and be transported to the game. They then travelled by back roads, lights had to be kept off on the bus, only arriving at the ground some 3 hours later just as the teams were coming out. Normally a 30 min journey. That's what they and fans of other NIFL clubs view as a possible future in an AIL just to support their team at an away game. Fans will quickly vote with their feet.
AGS haven't a clue when it comes to handling crowds at - "SOCCER" - matches.
I don't buy into the crap that an overturned lorry on the A/M1 created the delay for Linfield fans getting to OP.
It's all small detail though,they're an adaptable force who can learn quickly from the psni.
It was obviously planned that their bus would arrive at Oriel 5 minutes before kick off. They appear to have had to take a scenic tour around north County Louth as they arrived earlier than expected. The Guards closed the Carrick road to traffic, erected barricades and escorted the fans into the away section.
There is no way I would go to an away match is these circumstances.
For all the horror being mouthed by snowflakes about political chants, this is the issue that would get to me most as a fan.
It was humiliating night for Linfield fans. To see them taking down their "No Surrender" flag at halftime out of embarrassment almost brought a sympathetic tear to my eye.
Getting stuffed on the pitch just added to the indignity of the whole overall experience for Linfield supporters
The poor conditions of the away section at Oriel Park is enough for visitors to have to endure, without the excessively restricted travel requirements.
The Linfield officials seem to have taken a fair bit of flack as a result of these arrangements
That was certainly NOT the experience of NIFL fans during the Setanta Cup. I personally saw fans from many NIFL clubs drinking in the bars in Dalymount prior to matches and I know it happened elsewhere across the LOI. I cant speak about why the police (PSNI/AGS) decided on the arrangements for this game but Brexit debacle (heightened tensions), one off nature of match and the generally crap set up at Oriel Park probably contributed. To suggest that is an accurate example of what an AIL match would be like is simply ridiculous.
Certainly the measures put in place for Linfield fans travelling are not suitable and feasible on any kind of long terms basis but again have to viewed in perspective. Any logical thinking would lead us to security operations around games being significantlyt refined over the course of the first few years. Also likely that these games becoming the norm would make them more mundane to those that might pose a trouble risk.
Again not a barrier to an AIL although of course I back the view that no set of football fans should be treated like that but these are things that can be overcome.
All in all there was no major incidents over the course of the two games in fact no incidents of any note really that is the bottom line.
Over the top security operation and dodgy chants? Hardly new for football anywhere.
The AIL will not be happening any time soon and fan chants and security reasons will be very far down the long list of reasons it won't happen, the top of that list will be all to do with €€€/£££, too many blazers would lose their cushy number, clubs will lose out on UEFA money, etc, etc.
Mon the Town!
I think we can all agree that both clubs were a disgrace and should be deducted 50 points each for next season.
#NeverStopNotGivingUp
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