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17 February 2011

The Community Relations Council condemns the sectarian singing which took place among some Northern Ireland fans after last week’s football match in Dublin between Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Duncan Morrow, Chief Executive of the Community Relations Council, said:

‘The Irish Football Association and the Amalgamation of Northern Ireland Supporters Clubs have been working for years to root out sectarianism from football. With the support of the Community Relations Council the Football For All campaign has been very successful in achieving this and international matches in particular have become family friendly events.  Showing Sectarianism the Red Card has been a call which most football supporters have recognised as in the best interests of football.  

The behaviour of a small group of supporters in singing sectarian songs in Dublin last week flies in the face of the widely supported efforts of the IFA and the NI Supporters Clubs. It offers no future for football or for a shared future.     Sectarian behaviour harms football and those responsible are not representative of players, supporters or the football authorities.’

Contact CRC Press Officer

90-227500 or email: rmullan@nicrc.org.uk