I’m sad we won’t get to showcase the new, modern Northern Ireland .. it’s completely unrecognisable to place I grew up in
Brendan’s sorrow at Belfast ticket move
BRENDAN RODGERS sensed that it could have been a chance to show Northern Ireland in a new light.
Instead there’s a feeling the dark days haven’t quite been consigned to history.
The Celtic boss is saddened at the decision the club has taken following advice from Ulster Police to reject their ticket allocation for the Champions League qualifier against Linfield in Belfast – if the Northern Irish side overcome La Florita of San Marino.
Rodgers believes his country is unrecognisable to the one in which he grew up at the height of the Troubles. It’s just a shame they won’t get the chance to show it. The talk since the draw has been about sectarianism, the safety of fans and a reminder some ancient divisions just won’t go away. Belfast might now be a modern city but the week of July 12 is still a powderkeg and Celtic believe it’s best not to take any chances even though the encounter would move to July 14. Rodgers – who grew up in Carnlough on the coast – reckons it would be a chance missed though.
He said: “My general feeling is that I understand the issues that can be around it. But Northern Ireland is a new place from when I was growing up. The sadness for me is this was maybe an opportunity for the police and those there to show what the new Northern Ireland is. It is, it’s totally different now.
“You go to Belfast, to some of the great parts and it’s totally different. It’s a real vibrant city now with people coming together with the politics happily removed from a lot of it. It’s two communities coming together in all facets of life, with the biggest one being in terms of sport.
“I understand the issues around it but there will be a sadness for me because I saw it as a great opportunity to show – if the game was to take place – that two teams can have fans who can support and be passionate but live and support together.”
Rodgers doesn’t need to be told of the potential problems. He lived it. But he is convinced strides have been made in recent years. He said: “I understand that for the 11th or 12th of July there are going to be lots of people coming on boats across to Northern Ireland from Scotland, at the same time as Celtic supporters potentially.
“The game has to be played at a certain time within a certain week so I can understand the issues. I just hoped that it could have been managed. This was more a policing issue really.
“I can understand the issue around it but I just feel the bigger picture was it was a chance to show the new Northern Ireland - a great place where two sets of supporters from the different divides could support their team with passion and walk the streets together.
“There was a lot of hardship before and I wasn’t even right in the middle of it. But thankfully a lot of the politics are removed from it and in lots of walks of life in Northern Ireland now Catholics and Protestants come together, which is the way it should be. And sport has always been something that can bring people together.”
Celtic fans who wanted to travel are unhappy. The Green Brigade and Celtic Trust want the decision to be reversed but it’s not going to happen.
A statement from both organisations said: “We believe the board is more concerned with protecting the brand than the welfare of the fans or the success of our team.
“It is a very sad and strange turn of events when the custodians of our own club do not want the world famous Celtic support backing the team in a ‘crucial’ away match yet the home club welcomes us with open arms. We call on the board to reconsider their decision and, should they fail to do so, for Linfield to sell tickets directly to Celtic supporters.”
Rodgers admitted there’s also plenty of Northern Ireland-based Hoops fans who will be gutted to be shut out.
He said: “I suppose the frustration would be for the Irish supporters. Week in week out they travel across to Scotland and all around the world to see their team.
“Then a game on their doorstep is one they can’t see. I’m bitterly disappointed for them. But it’s a decision, if the game takes place, that’s unfortunate.”
Rodgers wasn’t part of the move to shift the game and refuse the tickets – but he did have a say on suggestions the first leg could be switched to Parkhead.
No chance. Celtic’s seeding gives them a home second leg and despite the fact the Hoops would be big favourites, Rodgers won’t take any unnecessary risks in the high-stakes environment of the Champions League qualifiers.
He said: “These are games where if you have the advantage everyone would want the second leg at home. We don’t need to lose that advantage. I can never presume that because we are playing a lower-level team we will win.
“These are important qualification games and coming back for the second leg – as you saw last year against Astana when the crowd helped us over the line – the home game can be crucial.”
Rodgers is hoping Linfield can progress and he’d be delighted for boss David Healy but he wouldn’t take the result for granted after the bloody nose of Gibraltar last summer.
There might be a hot atmosphere but at least it won’t be 40 degrees in Belfast.
Rodgers said: “You’ve obviously never been to Northern Ireland in July! These are always tough games. Gibraltar was very famous for you guys but they are all tough games. I’ll be glad if it’s Linfield because I’ll look forward to going back home and seeing people back there. Whoever it is our objective is to qualify.”