IFA chief stands over punishment of furious Belfast clubs

IRISH Football Association president Raymond Kennedy insists a “strong message” had to be delivered to top clubs Linfield and Glentoran after trouble flared in the stands at Windsor Park on St Stephen’s Day.

The Belfast rivals have been banned from playing each other over the festive period for the next two years and fined £1,000 each. Both are planning to appeal against the disciplinary committee’s decision as they are outraged at the loss of potentially hefty gate receipts by what they see as a draconian punishment.

Kennedy, however, feels that families will be dissuaded from attending in future unless the IFA takes steps to eradicate the violence at the venue, which is also home to the national side.

The match on St Stephen’s Day was held up for about seven minutes when riot police had to be called in as spectators tore out seats and hurled missiles at each other.

Kennedy said: “We have to send out a strong message that the IFA are not going to tolerate or accept such incidents. This was a serious incident and people could have been injured.

“Against that background the committee made the decision and I will stand by it. I have been slightly surprised by the reaction but people do not like to be punished.

“Let’s not forget either there had been one or two previous incidents of bottles and fireworks being thrown.”

Glentoran chairman Aubry Ralph, while accepting some of their fans caused trouble, says the club are intent on forming a breakaway league in protest.

He said: “I want to send out a challenge to the IFA president.

“It is time to wake up and smell the coffee. This Irish League is going to hell in a handcart. The Premier League clubs have had enough and we are not going to be dictated to by junior clubs.

“If we do not get the action we require, the Premier League clubs will have to consider their position within the IFA, and that is no idle threat.”

Linfield chairman Jim Kerr is also furious at the ruling and said: “You are depriving the great number of people who come home to Northern Ireland at Christmas the opportunity of seeing Linfield and Glentoran play.

“Are the hooligan element going to be driven away because the match is being played on a different day?.”