Drogheda United try quell fan backlash to rift with co-chairperson over Israel comments

Drogheda United claim they only took issue with co-chairperson Joanna Byrne’s comments on Israel as it amounted to ‘open criticism of Uefa and the FAI’. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile.

Drogheda United claim they only took issue with co-chairperson Joanna Byrne’s comments on Israel as it amounted to ‘open criticism of Uefa and the FAI’.

The club, whose owners are US-based hedge fund Trivela Group, responded within hours to a statement issued by Byrne alleging she was requested to resign on Monday.

Ms Byrne is also a Sinn Féin TD for Co Louth and insists her political views only were behind her call for the FAI to boycott the Uefa Nations League fixtures against Israel in September and October.

It became apparent shortly after Ms Byrne’s statement that the LOI community and club fans were backing her in the standoff.

She refused to vacate her seat and the subsequent statement from club confirmed there were no changes to their board structure - at this time.

“The concerns expressed to Ms Byrne by her fellow directors are unrelated to anyone's specific political or moral views, and at no point were any such concerns expressed.

“What was expressed was a concern over the open criticism of Uefa and the FAI, regulatory bodies to whom the Club is subject, as well as each club official’s responsibility to respect the neutrality provisions of the Fifa Code of Ethics and the Uefa Statutes.

"To be clear, the substance of Ms Byrne's views has never been attacked by the Club or Trivela Group.” It remains to be seen if the parities can reach a resolution. Fan protests against the board at Friday’s trip to Oriel Park have been spoken about.

Byrne, whose grandfather Mick, was instrumental in Drogheda’s history become the first female chairperson at a Premier LOI club in April 2024.

“It is profoundly hurtful that expressing a moral view - one shared by the majority of Irish football fans - has led to this approach despite me never referencing the club at any stage whilst doing so,” she said in her statement.

“I stand over those comments. They were made from a deeply held belief in equality, human rights and the power of sport to take principled positions - as it has done many times in history.”