Letter to the FAI (re Saturday)

[fergalr]

Regardless of what I'm sure are sincerely held views, I too think the letter is way, way, way over the top. I was at the match and saw nothing to get het up about (apart from the goalkeeper).

[Cosmo]

How many nazi salutes did ye see again?

10? 20?

Like if i say that i saw 20 people at the match questioning the goalkeepers sexuality should i write in a letter to the national papers too saying so that the irish newpapers can run a story saying that irish football supporters are homophobic

Only winding ye up with above comment but come on, it wasn't that bad, get over it, - im sure you saw worse at a cork city match. Nobody got phsically hurt (unlike when we visited the cross earlier this season ).

Blown out of proportion lads, forget about it, move on

[republic]

Way, Way, Way Over The Top!

>1.People singing songs about Hitler
>2.People openly making racist (anti Jewish ) comments in full earshot of both >the Gardai and Stewards
>3.People openly making Nazi salutes at the away fans.Again this was being >done in full few of the stewards and Gardai as we (some decent supporters >who were there for the football match) brought this to their attention
>4.Bottles of softdrinks being thrown on the pitch in the direction of the Isreal >goalkeeper

I saw or heard none of the above. No supporter that I have spoken to since Saturday saw or heard anything like the above. If you saw this then who are we to argue? Yet, you impugn the good reputation of Irish fans due to the actions of a mere *handful* of mindful idiots. Sending a letter to the FAI regarding this is to be applauded and commended. Let them take the necessary action. If they don't, then follow it up with contacting the media.

However, your decision to copy the letter to the daily newspapers now is beyond belief! Some of them - probably the Independent (and it's stable mate The Evening Herald) would have a field day and the resultant publicity would tarnish the reputation of the many thousands of loyal and decent supporters.

BTW - one bit of advice Redgav. It is not a good idea to send a letter to the FAI and, more especially, the media containing lots of spelling mistakes. It makes you look stupid!

[tiktok]

I saw or heard none of the above. No supporter that I have spoken to since Saturday saw or heard anything like the above. If you saw this then who are we to argue?

I didn't hear anyone singing songs about Hitler, but I and those around me at the game, Row 7/8/9/ in Block N06 would have witnessed the Nazi salutes and racist remarks.

Loads of people saw the idiots outside Murray's.

.......the resultant publicity would tarnish the reputation of the many thousands of loyal and decent supporters.

Again, it's the actions described rather than the description that tarnishes our reputation. But I guess since it was only 'a minority' we can pretend it didn't happen

[Karlos]

I did hear some racist abuse around me - quite a lot actually in the West Lower where I was seated. I did not hear racist chanting or see Nazi signs. In 15 years of going to Ireland game i can't remember the level of racist comments and abuse being thrown at the opposition as I heard on Saturday with the exception of the england games possibly.

i think the letter to the FAI was the right thing to do. It's a pity you didn't have details of seat numbers and sections as the FAI could have taken action against ticket holders who were involved.

I'm not sure if I would have gotten the media involved myself but that's probably as I'm not well spoken enough to convey my point as I would like. I did see incidents inside and outside the ground that disgusted me and I've been told by others that nazi signs where witnessed.

I think it would be wrong to let this pass just because it's a minority of Irish fans. I know many a decent english fan who has had his good name ruined by a minority and the more the minority get away with it the more idiots who join in and it grows and grows

We need to put a stop to this kind of behaviour NOW.

[Junior]

That's where we'll have to disagree Cosmo.

To my mind, it's not the letter, but the actions of those described in the letter that gives us a bad name.

I won't gloss over people in the crowd giving Nazi salutes, IMO that goes well beyond 'banter' e.g. the 'Where's your foreskin gone?' chants were banter and lighthearted

You said as much yourself, you saw 2-3 people causing a bit of aggro outside, and the odd idiot inside. In a crowd of 34k? The letter is OTT.

[yiddo]

Way, Way, Way Over The Top!

>1.People singing songs about Hitler
>2.People openly making racist (anti Jewish ) comments in full earshot of both >the Gardai and Stewards
>3.People openly making Nazi salutes at the away fans.Again this was being >done in full few of the stewards and Gardai as we (some decent supporters >who were there for the football match) brought this to their attention
>4.Bottles of softdrinks being thrown on the pitch in the direction of the Isreal >goalkeeper

I was on the North Terrace and saw and heard people doing the nazi salute and singing hiitler was right. These guys about 4 in total ( in a group of about 20) were in full earshot of the at least 2 stewards. One of the stewards had a word and a guard came over to them and told them to "watch the game or else get out". This seemed to sort them out although a few of them were later thrown out for what appeared to be drinking at the game rather than anything else.
I can only say what I saw and can't comment on if it was widespread throughout the ground or just confined to sections of the North Terrace.

[Green Tribe]

Basically these idiots involved need to be outed, we do not need or want them in our fan base. If they cannot behave or represent their country in an appropiate fashion ie decent manners and respectfully, they should go and support England, they'll find plenty of likeminded thugs amongst their fanbase. These 'fans' are obviously not interested in supporting Ireland, they are just interested in winding up the opposition in the wrong way, fair enough banter and a laugh, but nothing racist and offensive such as this behaviour.

Can they not put themselves in their shoes, how would they like to be treated like this if they are at an away game? I am just thankful that the Israeli fans were quite calm and did not react, I could imagine any other country and there would have been huge retaliation. So, plan is, any further behaviour or anyone who knows of anyone involved in any of this, out them!They need to be removed from the fan base, we don't want to be associated with their caveman antics....

[Docboy]

I also was at the game & would like to add my voice to the idea that this was actions carried out by the few rather than the whole. Heard one or two dodgy comments but when you're wound up so bad like we were by that keeper that is to be expected.

Some people on these site seem determined to run us all down all the time, why bother going to the games if you get upset that easily. Come on the boys tonight!!

[livehead1]

Have sent the following letter to the FAI via mail and email :-


I'm writing this letter to register my utmost disgust at the events on saturday evening,both inside and outside Landsdowne Road.
I was seated in the North Terrace as I am for each home game and what I witnessed and heard was shocking and shameful and to all effects,made me ashamed to be a Irish Football Supporter.
On Saturday, before the game I was standing outside Murrays pub , on the footpath ,less than 50 yards from the barrier entrances and was standing with 10 or 12 fellow fans and I witnessed the following

1. Two people wearing the Official Ireland Supporters Club polo shirts throw pints of beer (at least I hope it was beer) at passing Isreal fans
2. A level of abuse I have never ever seen at a Irish Football match was being directed at the Isreal fans as they went past.

Inside the ground was even worse where the level of abuse being rained on the away fans was unbelievable.And this was all still pre-game so the inevitable

1.People singing songs about Hitler
2.People openly making racist (anti Jewish ) comments in full earshot of both the Gardai and Stewards
3.People openly making Nazi salutes at the away fans.Again this was being done in full few of the stewards and Gardai as we (some decent supporters who were there for the football match) brought this to their attention
4.Bottles of softdrinks being thrown on the pitch in the direction of the Isreal goalkeeper

These actions ,coupled with what happened outside the ground ,has disgusted me and has made me ashamed to call myself a supporter of the same team as these cowards
Some months ago,the world watched in shock by the scenes we witnessed in the Bernabao stadium when Madrid fans openly saluted in Nazi fashion.Ohhh how we condemned them , and now we have the exact same situation in our own back yard and theres not been a murmur from the media

Last November,a anti FAI protest organised by football fans,where placards and flyers ,which were to be distributed outside the ground and were planned to be held up as Milo Corcoran took to the field,had their cards confiscated after The FAI instructed stewards to remove the cards or anyone using them.Why then, was the same thing not done to people distributing Palestinian placards ,which were there for one reason only which was to incite trouble?
Why were fans that were making these Gestures inside the stadium not ejected,despite both Gardai and stewards being made aware of this ?
After the events in City Centre Dublin earlier in the Afternoon, why was there not more stewards or Gardai positioned outside the ground where fans were congregating?

Last saturday night ,apart from the two points we dropped ,we also lost the title of the best supporters in the world

I have also sent this letter to the Irish Independant,The Irish Times,The Daily Star and Newstalk 106.I have promised each that I will also supply them with any reply's you send back,should you deem my letter worthy of such a action


Yours

Redgav

let it drop you saddo, have you nothing better to do with your time than lower the reputation of irish soccer and their supporters by going over the top on what a minority of irish supporters did after a few too many drinks. your behaving like a total idiot, i read your posts on other threads and accepted many of the valid point that you made but here you are merely displaying a complete lack of sense in attempting to raise the profile of a very small problem that occured as a real one off due to the cheating of israeli players and a possible political side to the coin in relation to palestine. how about u go out, have a few pints and chill yourself

[onenilgameover]

Also, the red card thing was in protest of John Delaney more so than Milo, as Milo doesn't really have any power behind the green door. He's just a figure head.

I did like your comment about the FAI stewards removing (forcibly) the red cards yet it was all ok for the Palestinian flags. The difference here is that John Man Utd Delaney wasn't being booed or red carded.

Long time no see Robinski! Yeah fair play to you...don't think that was harshly written...glad you gave the the red cards a mention. Embarassing scenes on Sat. Glad you did something

[onenilgameover]

let it drop you saddo, have you nothing better to do with your time than lower the reputation of irish soccer and their supporters by going over the top on what a minority of irish supporters did after a few too many drinks. your behaving like a total idiot, i read your posts on other threads and accepted many of the valid point that you made but here you are merely displaying a complete lack of sense in attempting to raise the profile of a very small problem that occured as a real one off due to the cheating of israeli players and a possible political side to the coin in relation to palestine. how about u go out, have a few pints and chill yourself

Yeah ye let it drpo and these scumbags take our good name and reputation and **** on it. At least this guy was embarrassed enough as an Irishman do do something about it. All good, no harm in reporting scenes of this nature then we have nothing to be ashamed of.

[John83]

I saw the couple of idiots at Murrays too, but I heard and saw nothing in the ground at all. Sure, there were doubtless a few idiots around, but that's what the stewards are for.

[livehead1]

I saw some of the trouble outside Murrays. I didn't see any nazi salutes. I saw the drink being thrown. But either way, what I saw took place bfore the game and certainly had nothing to do with the subsequent cheating...

you miss my point, wat i was saying is that if we would have won that game 5-0 nearly all the irish fans would have gone home happy and not with the attitute of stereotyping israelis as cheats and looking for any method by which to irritate them

[tiktok]

you miss my point, wat i was saying is that if we would have won that game 5-0 nearly all the irish fans would have gone home happy and not with the attitute of stereotyping israelis as cheats and looking for any method by which to irritate them

.....and you're missing everyone else's point.
A lot of what has been described took place before the match, and inside the ground most of it started long before the israeli goalkeeper starting his antics.

I shouted 'Cheat' at Dudu and repeatedly booed him after he started acting the prat, but surely you can see the difference between that and someone giving a Nazi salute

[MacAonghusa]

I fully agree with the letter. I wasn't at the game but I have ready many of the reports on it. I don't know if it is being blown out of proportion or not but the crucial point is that this DID happen.
This kind of **** should not be allowed to creep in to Irish soccer. It must be stamped on immediatly and not tolerated for a second.
So what if we lose the (self-proclaimed) title of worlds best fans, if we want the title then we should win it back by getting rid of these a**holes from the Irish fanbase.