Derry City need to clamp down on yob violence which is a threat to fan safety along with League of Ireland growth

The Irish Sun

29-07-2025

WHEN its most arresting image is of someone sitting on a fence holding what looks like a rocket launcher, it has not been a good weekend for the League of Ireland.
The video doing the rounds with a clearly petrified young girl crying out to her daddy, from outside the ground, as
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Local yobs attacked away fans in this instance
Credit: X
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Carl Winchester looks on after a flare was thrown onto the pitch
It is bad enough when facilities in many grounds are not up to scratch without the inherent danger extending beyond rank toilets to the threat of getting caught up in violence.
One view of what happened in Derry is a crowd of Dubliners came up looking for trouble, got it and the response that followed might make them think twice about trying that again.
And there will not be a huge amount of sympathy for any Bohs supporter who got their comeuppance having decided the best way to spend their time before kick-off was to attack locals.
It is difficult to see how they thought it was going to go well for them in an area where people are more accustomed to defending their turf than most.
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Some reports suggested the fight was pre-arranged, with others claiming it was revenge for an attack on Bohs fans when the Phibsborough club played there earlier in the season.
Of course, neither the protagonists on this occasion nor those who sought retribution gave too much thought to the innocent bystanders who could be
Former Candystripes captain and manager Peter Hutton warned: 'These ultras or young boys are putting fear into the young supporters who simply want to enjoy the football.
"There is no place for it in the game. Parents will now be thinking twice whether it is safe to let their children go to games.
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'If these guys are planning trouble in advance and looking to get things into the ground, the club needs to ramp up its security and be aware of this.'
Such scenes are, for the most part, rare in our League which is why the attack on St Pat's fans outside a pub in Irishtown prior to the 2021 FAI Cup final against Bohs got so much attention.
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There was also an attack on a pub in Drumcondra prior to the league meeting between
But Dublin derbies with the potential for trouble are generally well managed in the immediate vicinity of grounds through segregation and the staggered departure of home and away supporters.
That is what happened in Derry on Friday night too, except there was no attempt made to contain the away contingent within the stand, where they had a level of protection, when pictures were already circulating on social media of masked youngsters armed with golf clubs and more lying in wait outside.
When they drifted outside to the open area behind the stand and fireworks were propelled in their direction, there was some surprise that there was no obvious effort to get them to shelter and to make their way out safely towards their coaches via the pitch.
Much of the local reaction has focused on the initial attack, which is understandable, but there is a wider issue here surrounding the safety of away supporters in Derry which nobody can afford to ignore.
STRUGGLE FOR BUSES
Some supporters' clubs for away teams no longer run buses for that fixture or, even if they want to, struggle to find companies willing to bring them based on past experience.
In April of last year, as happened on Friday, a match against
The sight of a young boy entering the pitch to pick it up during the game — which was being broadcast live on television — and running a significant distance with the flare in his hand was not a great advertisement for its stewarding which, uniquely and for obvious reasons, does not have a police presence inside the ground.
Unlike on Friday, Rovers supporters were moved to the centre circle after the final whistle in an attempt to keep them out of harm's way.
It prompted Derry to move away fans to a different part of the ground when St Pat's came to town 72 hours later.
When the PSNI responded to the disturbances at the Rovers game, they were attacked with missiles.
As a result of what happened, Derry City were fined €2,000 by an independent disciplinary committee, which also imposed a suspended partial stadium closure although that would only come into force if anything happened at their next home game after their ruling, against Shelbourne.
That did not come to pass but Shels had already had their own problems there the previous October when a coach carrying its supporters was bricked as it left the area, with a gofundme page launched to pay the near-€4,000 bill to replace a smashed door window.
ATTACK ON ROVERS FANS
A month prior to that, Rovers fans had been attacked when coming out of the ground, again, not, it is believed, by anyone who had attended the game.
That recurring theme does make it difficult for Derry City, as a club, to address it. After they were sanctioned last year, the club issued a statement accepting the ruling.
It added: 'The club condemns the scenes in and around the ground on Friday night and has cooperated fully with the Disciplinary Control Unit of the FAI.
'Since the events of last Friday, representatives of the club have met with several statutory agencies to discuss enhanced crowd control measures.
'As a result of continued anti-social behaviour, the club need to take additional measures to ensure that all supporters attending games in the Ryan McBride stadium can enjoy a safe and enjoyable match night experience.
"This is highly unfortunate and not a move the club takes lightly.
It has, however been forced on the club due to those recent events.'
A separate League of Ireland statement said that it 'and the FAI are committed to providing a safe environment for players, officials, staff and spectators at all our fixtures'.
UNIQUE BACKDROP
But crowd control within a stadium is tough enough without the remit extending beyond its perimeter walls.
And the reality is that, no matter how well-intentioned, neither the club nor the FAI can guarantee the safety of away fans — and nor can the PSNI.
Clearly, trying to police the area outside The Brandywell is not comparable to any other League of Ireland ground so it is up to those in the Bogside itself.
If those with influence have any regard for a club which has made a significant contribution to both the community, and, in its 40 years as a member, the League, they will put an end to this carry-on before its name is tarnished any further.
And those travelling north might wise up too and, in a phrase with which Bohs fans will be familiar, 'concentrate on the football'.