VIDEO: Former Shels boss brands Liverpool fans 'morons'

By Peter O’ Dwyer

Former Shelbourne manager Dermot Keely has branded fans that went to last week’s friendly between Shamrock Rovers and Liverpool at the Avivia Stadium to support the English side as “morons”.

Speaking on RTÉ’s football show ‘Soccer Republic’, Keely said: “It’s absolutely shocking; 42,000 morons going to watch Liverpool’s reserve team… They deserve anything they get in my opinion.”

“I do not understand how Irish people cannot support an Irish league, it’s beyond me; it baffles me. If you parachuted most of that crowd into Liverpool they wouldn’t be able to find their way to Anfield.”

Keely said that he has no problem with fans supporting a foreign side as long as they also support an SSE Airtricity League side too.

He also said that he has no issue with Shamrock Rovers organising the match or with the funds it raised which will be put back into Irish football.

Fellow pundit Richie Sadlier disagreed with Keely’s comments, arguing that supporting a team by virtue of its country of origin was by no means the sole motivating factor for fans.

Keely also had some harsh words for Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Jones who was on loan at Shelbourne during the 2001-02 season. On his debut for the side, Jones conceded four goals in a 6-4 victory against Bohemians at Dalymount Park.

42,000 supporters watched the friendly between Rovers and Liverpool with the away side running out comfortable 4-0 winners.

H/T: Balls.ie