Alliance criticises IFA sanction for Coalisland Athletic FC after players chanted IRA slogans

Coalisland Athletic FC secured a 4-1 win over Bangor Young Men in the Junior Cup Final at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park on Monday May 2.

But a brief video clip of their celebrations, circulated on social media, shows around a dozen men dancing on a team bus, with some apparently chanting ‘Up the Ra’.

Yesterday an IFA spokesman said the Mid Ulster Football League referred a complaint to the IFA in relation to the conduct and that it had now fined the club.

“Upon review of the content of the complaint, the disciplinary committee charged Coalisland Athletic FC with a breach of Article 17 of the Articles of Association (bringing the game into disrepute) and sanctioned the club with a £250 fine. “Coalisland Athletic FC accepted the charge and sanction offered,” he said.

Alliance Party Deputy Leader Stephen Farry also condemned the language used. In 2020 he criticised a new Linfield FC away strip which was likened to the colours of the UVF, which claimed over 500 lives during the Troubles.

“This may well be purely coincidental and unintentional, but I do think a rethink would be appropriate,” he said of the orange and purple colours at the time. “The similarity to UVF colours is too striking. Many other colours and designs are available. Why leave any ambiguity and risk offence to so many?”

He too condemned the language used in the Coalisland Athletic video clip, when it first appeared. “There is no place for the glorification or supporting of terrorism in sport or indeed wider society,” he said. “I utterly condemn this incident and call on those involved to apologise.”

The News Letter is not aware of the club having apologised or made any public statement.

Inviting him to comment on the sanction handed down,