Houghton: Better standards can lure fans to domestic game

FAI ambassador and former Irish international Ray Houghton has said it’s up to people involved in Irish football to make the local game more attractive to fans.

The much-decorated ex-pro said yesterday he could understand why Irish fans would want to see a Liverpool team playing in Dublin, as they expect to see top players, but added they should be encouraged to watch their own local clubs.

Houghton was responding to hard-hitting comments made by Dermot Keely on RTÉ on Monday night, when the former Shelbourne manager criticised “48,000 morons going to watch Liverpool’s reserve team” at last week’s match against Shamrock Rovers in Aviva Stadium.