Police examine football match brawl
POLICE are examining television footage of a football match between Newry City and Larne which descended into a mass brawl.
Referee Raymond Crangle abandoned the match after serious fighting between players and coaching staff from both teams.
A PSNI spokeswoman confirmed they attended a report of an altercation at football grounds at Greenbank Industrial Estate in Newry on Saturday. "Various individuals were spoken with however no complaints were made," she said. "Police intend to study all available footage of the incident to determine if criminal offences have been committed."
Irish Football Association President Raymond Kennedy described the scenes, in an Irish Cup tie, as "sickening" adding that both clubs could be expelled.
He said: "We won't make any knee-jerk reactions until we hear all the facts of events at the Showgrounds, but it is fair to say that expulsion could be an option because we don't want to see any sickening scenes of violence in local football."
SDLP MLA for Newry and Armagh Dominic Bradley said the "shocking incident" must be fully investigated by soccer authorities. "Those responsible for instigating this mayhem must be identified and brought to book," he said. "Such behaviour is a very poor advertisement for sport and must be eradicated from the game."
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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