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28th Mar 2019

Irish Football Association and local football club apologise after fans chant ‘we hate Catholics’

Paul Moore

Northern Ireland chants

“This is utterly wrong and we condemn sectarianism in any form.”

The Irish Football Association (IFA), the governing body for the Northern Ireland football team, have condemned a video of fans singing ‘we hate Catholics’ after a recent international match.

A 20-second video of the sectarian incident appeared on social media in the aftermath of Northern Ireland’s recent 2-1 Euro 2020 qualifier win over Belarus at Windsor Park.

The clip shows fans in Northern Ireland jerseys in a pub singing, “We hate Catholics, everyone hates Roman Catholics” to the tune of Tiffany’s ’80s hit ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’.

“This is utterly wrong and we condemn sectarianism in any form,” said the IFA.

Northern Ireland have consistently selected players from Catholic and nationalist backgrounds. Their current manager Michael O’Neill is a Catholic, as is their striker Niall McGinn – he opened the scoring in their recent 2-0 win over Estonia.

Killen Rangers FC, a club based in Tyrone, have also issued a statement on the incident.

The club said they’re aware that some club members were present in Belfast for the Belarus match and that the club will meet to address the matter and take appropriate disciplinary sanctions, if deemed appropriate.

You can read the club’s statement in full below:

“A video has emerged on social media which we wish to address as a Club.

“Members of Killen Rangers Football Club are present in Belfast for the Northern Ireland match.

“Sectarian chanting is clearly audible and we wish to firstly condemn this behaviour without hesitation. Such despicable antics have no place in sport, in society or indeed in life.

“Those who know us or who have had any dealings with our Club will be aware that we have been doing everything in our power for the best part of a decade now to make our Club more attractive to all sides of the local community.

“This work is ongoing and we have no intention to withdraw from this pathway due to a minority of individuals who really should have known better.

“As a club, we will meet and address this matter in line with our Club policies and Constitution. If disciplinary action is deemed appropriate then the necessary sanctions will be taken without hesitation.

“As a club, we wish to unreservedly apologise to the Catholic Community for the obvious offence caused, and again emphasise that this incident goes completely against the ethos of our Club.”

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