Lengthy bans await supporters identified in unsavoury scenes at The Showgrounds last Friday
SLIGO Rovers have confirmed that “lengthy bans” will be issued to any supporters identified in the unsavoury scenes which unfolded during the half-time break at last Friday’s match against St Patrick’s Athletic in The Showgrounds.
Ugly scenes quickly unfolded as the first-half ended when a number of supporters of both clubs in the Jinks Avenue stand appeared to goad each other from either side of the two fences.
The verbal exchanges soon escalated as bottles, coins and flares were then thrown into either section of the stand.
Tensions came to ahead when some St Pat’s fans encroached on the pitch in order to get at the Sligo Rovers fans who quickly dispersed.
At this point stewards blocked access back into the Jinks Avenue Stand for those fans for the remainder of the match.
In a statement issued on Saturday morning, Sligo Rovers confirmed that CCTV was being used and a number of fans involved were already positively identified. “Sligo Rovers are aware of incidents which took place at half time during last night’s 1-0 win over St Patrick’s Athletic at The Showgrounds.
“The incident has been captured on our CCTV cameras and we have identified a number of those involved and they will be subject to lengthy stadium bans.
Supporters on the pitch argue with a match steward.
“The Showgrounds is a welcoming, family friendly stadium and incidents like this will not be tolerated and those involved in such incidents are not welcome at our club.
“We wish to thank our supporters for their support of the club in 2022 and we will not allow our supporters’ fantastic reputation be tarnished by a minority of supporters who come to cause trouble.”
First team manager John Russell confirmed that he was in the dressing room when the incidents occurred but said that it is important that the actions of a few do not overshadow the reputation of the majority of Bit O’Red fans.
“I didn’t see any of it, we were in the dressing room but this is a community club run by the people of Sligo. You never want to see any unsavoury scenes because it doesn’t reflect what most of those people are like, you look how well we travelled in Europe this year and how well behaved everyone was over the course of those few weeks and we want to make sure that those high standards are what we are known for.”
Separately, as the teams returned to the pitch, there was a delay to the start of the second-half as St Pat’s goalkeeper David Odumosu made a complaint to referee John McLoughlin about a remark which was made from behind the goal of the Nazareth House end of the ground. The incident is still being investigated.