Lifetime ban on fan welcomed
The Sports Minister has welcomed the IFA’s ‘firm action’ in imposing a lifetime ban on a Northern Ireland supporter identified singing sectarian songs after a match against Scotland in Dublin last week.
The association said they will be imposing a lifetime ban to stop the person getting tickets to all future Northern Ireland games.
“The IFA has now decided on how they are going to deal with the matter, they are trying to identify individuals involved and I think it is commendable that they are taking firm action and I am pleased about that”, Nelson McCausland said.
“On this occasion there were around 6,000 supporters in Dublin, a small group of people about 25 behaved very badly, it is totally unacceptable but we must not let it detract from the excellent behaviour of the rest of that group of supporters”, he added.
It comes after an investigation was launched when footage emerged on YouTube following their defeat in the Nations Cup at the Aviva Stadium.
Both the IFA and the Amalgamation of Northern Ireland Supporters Clubs said the behaviour of the small number of fans was inappropriate.
One of those involved has now been named.
Once that name has been confirmed, the IFA said the lifetime ban will be put in place.
The IFA said it has been working with the Amalgamation of NISC and other bodies to establish the identities of all those involved.
They have appealed for anyone with further information to come forward.
