PUT FLARE-UP IN CONTEXT
As Shels await fate Duff reaches out to fan
DAMIEN DUFF insists Shelbourne will ‘take their medicine’ as the club braces itself for a likely stadium ban.
The FAI’S independent Disciplinary Control Unit meets today to discuss the fallout from Friday’s pyro incident in Drogheda.
A Shels fan threw a smoke bomb that hit a linesman (inset) and the game – deep in injury-time – was stopped for 15 minutes, with both teams taken off the pitch by the referee.
Shels drew the match 2-2 but manager Duff was livid after the final whistle and slammed the supporter for bringing shame on the club.
If deemed guilty by the DCU, Shelbourne
fans could be banned from their next away game in Galway on Friday week.
But ahead of today’s hearing, Duff has stressed that he and the club also want to help the fan at the centre of the storm.
Duff is busy preparing his side for Friday’s derby clash with Bohemians at Tolka Park but yesterday acknowledged that this story is the ‘elephant in the room’.
“We’ll take our medicine when it comes,” said the Reds boss and former Republic of Ireland winger.
“You hear rumours of what it might be but you don’t know until you know. You hear that maybe it’s the Galway game.
“It’s never nice not having your fans with you but sometimes in life you have to do stuff on your own. It will be a tough game regardless, if it is that, but I’m second guessing.”
Duff continued: “I’ve obviously calmed down. It was a horrible sight. I was angry, embarrassed, as everyone was at the club.
“It hurt the fans as well, whether they found the person or what. Again, on me, angry and emotional and I was probably quick to slaughter the person.
“At the same time I’m keen to help as well. You hear rumours that it was a young boy or whatever, young enough that they shouldn’t have been there.
“I want to help the league, I want to help the club and I want to help these people. I’m sure he’s grossly embarrassed and gone underground but you can’t just leave him be.
“When I said come down to the training ground, it wasn’t to get him a headlock or anything. No, just have a chat. I’m sure the person has learned.
“I was quick to vilify and by my tone you would have got that, but I want to help as well.”