Opposition Fans Can Go Too Far
Credit:
Last Friday evening, Richmond Park was the venue for our clash against St.Pats. From an entertainment point of view, the game was a poor affair and it ended scoreless. I was very disappointed with the result and frustrated at not being able to break their defensive guard down. Nevertheless, in saying that, I was very impressed with the defensive unit that St.Pats have manufactured this year. They will be a very tough team to break down this season. However, disappointed with the result, I was left with a sour taste in my mouth for another reason.
As some of you are aware who read my weekly articles, I touched on the subject of Racism last week. Subsequently, the next day, there was a piece published in one of the daily newspapers in relation to my article whereby I touched on individual personal incidents in the past. Unfortunately, a very small minority of fans at St. Pats picked this up in a negative way and I received the worst abuse from opposition fans since I started playing football in the League of Ireland eight years ago. What made it more distasteful is that I have many friends who support St. Pats and they are also the club I supported at a young age ever since I received a coaching course from Niall Quinn there when I was about 10. I have huge admiration for St. Pats as a club and I have been very close to signing for them on a number of occasions in the past.
Anyway, I reported the racial abuse to the match officials and hopefully, that kind of abuse can be extinguished from the game here. So it got me thinking, when do fans go too far with the abuse it shows to opposition players and where do we draw a line?
99% of the time, any kind of abuse we receive as players from fans is taken up in a good-humoured way. Abuse or ‘opposition fans banter’ is part and parcel of the game. Most players would take it up in a friendly way and just smile. Some of the things you hear from fans are priceless. Earlier in the season, we played Bohemians and our fans were chanting at Killian Brennan, “How long did it take you to GHD your hair”!! Another fan shouted to Paul Keegan, “What age are you? You look about 34, not 24”!! That kind of interaction from fans to players adds to the atmosphere and I would never discourage it. However, there are times, but not very often I must add; that fans go too fans with their words.
I remember being involved in a game for Drogheda a few years back when a team mate of mine received personal abuse from opposition fans in relation to his late wife who had passed away a few months prior. I felt physically sick after the game. It was disgusting to think that some people could stoop that low and that kind of abuse should result in severe punishment for anyone concerned.
I remember another time playing against one of my former teams when a small group of fans started chanting, “Die Zayed, Die”. I guess it didn’t help when I ran over to them later in the game and pointed at them after I had scored against their team!!
Another incident I can recall is when another unnamed team mate received abuse about his mother and girlfriend. I won’t repeat what was said but take it from me; there was no holding back with what was said. Every now and again, in the heat of the game perhaps, opposition fans do go too far. However, as I said, 99% of the time, it’s friendly and it adds to the atmosphere of the match.
A lot of people discourage the League of Ireland and there is a lot who would rather watch an English game on TV than come, watch and support their local team. In comparison to Rugby or G.A.A., there is also a lot of negativity published about the League here. However, one big, big positive that the LOI can be proud of is the passionate fans that do come out on a Friday or Saturday night and support their team.
I’ve had the pleasure of playing in front of Drogheda United fans week in week out and they were always amazing. When the club went into administration and needed both financial and non-financial help, the fans really showed their passion and love for the club by saving the club from the brink of extinction.
At Sporting Fingal, as we are still a relatively new club in existence, we are currently building up our fan base but the fans that we do have at the moment are brilliant and very supportive. The support we had in the F.A.I cup final last year was amazing and definitely helped us achieve success.
All in all, the Airtricity League of Ireland is lucky to have some of the best and most passionate football supporters in the world. The fans we have are a huge positive for the league here. But if we could just cut out those few heated times when some fans do go too far.
As some of you are aware who read my weekly articles, I touched on the subject of Racism last week. Subsequently, the next day, there was a piece published in one of the daily newspapers in relation to my article whereby I touched on individual personal incidents in the past. Unfortunately, a very small minority of fans at St. Pats picked this up in a negative way and I received the worst abuse from opposition fans since I started playing football in the League of Ireland eight years ago. What made it more distasteful is that I have many friends who support St. Pats and they are also the club I supported at a young age ever since I received a coaching course from Niall Quinn there when I was about 10. I have huge admiration for St. Pats as a club and I have been very close to signing for them on a number of occasions in the past.
Anyway, I reported the racial abuse to the match officials and hopefully, that kind of abuse can be extinguished from the game here. So it got me thinking, when do fans go too far with the abuse it shows to opposition players and where do we draw a line?
99% of the time, any kind of abuse we receive as players from fans is taken up in a good-humoured way. Abuse or ‘opposition fans banter’ is part and parcel of the game. Most players would take it up in a friendly way and just smile. Some of the things you hear from fans are priceless. Earlier in the season, we played Bohemians and our fans were chanting at Killian Brennan, “How long did it take you to GHD your hair”!! Another fan shouted to Paul Keegan, “What age are you? You look about 34, not 24”!! That kind of interaction from fans to players adds to the atmosphere and I would never discourage it. However, there are times, but not very often I must add; that fans go too fans with their words.
I remember being involved in a game for Drogheda a few years back when a team mate of mine received personal abuse from opposition fans in relation to his late wife who had passed away a few months prior. I felt physically sick after the game. It was disgusting to think that some people could stoop that low and that kind of abuse should result in severe punishment for anyone concerned.
I remember another time playing against one of my former teams when a small group of fans started chanting, “Die Zayed, Die”. I guess it didn’t help when I ran over to them later in the game and pointed at them after I had scored against their team!!
Another incident I can recall is when another unnamed team mate received abuse about his mother and girlfriend. I won’t repeat what was said but take it from me; there was no holding back with what was said. Every now and again, in the heat of the game perhaps, opposition fans do go too far. However, as I said, 99% of the time, it’s friendly and it adds to the atmosphere of the match.
A lot of people discourage the League of Ireland and there is a lot who would rather watch an English game on TV than come, watch and support their local team. In comparison to Rugby or G.A.A., there is also a lot of negativity published about the League here. However, one big, big positive that the LOI can be proud of is the passionate fans that do come out on a Friday or Saturday night and support their team.
I’ve had the pleasure of playing in front of Drogheda United fans week in week out and they were always amazing. When the club went into administration and needed both financial and non-financial help, the fans really showed their passion and love for the club by saving the club from the brink of extinction.
At Sporting Fingal, as we are still a relatively new club in existence, we are currently building up our fan base but the fans that we do have at the moment are brilliant and very supportive. The support we had in the F.A.I cup final last year was amazing and definitely helped us achieve success.
All in all, the Airtricity League of Ireland is lucky to have some of the best and most passionate football supporters in the world. The fans we have are a huge positive for the league here. But if we could just cut out those few heated times when some fans do go too far.
