Ruaidhri Higgins insists 'you can't tar them all with the same brush' after Coleraine fined by Irish FA
Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins insists “it's important that we don't tar everyone with the same brush” after the Bannsiders were fined by the Irish FA following an incident during their Premiership clash against rivals Ballymena United earlier this month.
The Co Londonderry club revealed this week they were “served with a Notice of Complaint and monetary fine from the Irish Football Association” after objects were thrown towards Ballymena goalkeeper David Walsh in the second half of their 3-2 home win.
Coleraine highlighted how “a very small minority have brought a negative light on to the club and now cost the club financially”.
The Showgrounds boasts one of the Irish League’s highest average attendances across the Irish League - 3,360 supporters were present for the match against Ballymena (both clubs) according to the NI Football League.
It was the third-highest attended Premiership fixture so far this season behind Linfield vs Glentoran (4,694) and Linfield vs Cliftonville (3,662).
Higgins has been full of praise for his club’s supporters, who travelled to last season’s Irish Cup final win in impressive numbers, and believes it’s important not all fans are criticised for recent events.
"Listen, our supporters I find are extremely respectful,” said Higgins. “It was a derby so you'd imagine that there would have been some people in there who aren't always there.
"It's important that we don't be too critical of our supporters because they've been phenomenal.
"You can't tar them all with the same brush if one person or two people have thrown something onto the pitch – which they shouldn't have done.
"It's important that we don't tar everyone with the same brush. Our supporters have been absolutely exemplary in my opinion.
"It's not tit for tat but it did happen at the other end as well, which is no excuse either.
"You don't want them to happen, of course you don't, but from time to time people get carried away and make mistakes and obviously one or two people have made a mistake here.”