It's very hard to ask countries to respect each other, you see.
Official Football Thread
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Black Wizard
Pleb Hunter
@Niall Kielt @srfc I was reading about the prospect of an all-Ireland league earlier.
www.bbc.co.uk
Is this something you guys would be interested in?
All-Island league: Organisers 'delighted' at turnout of clubs at Dundalk meeting
The businessman leading the proposed All-Island Football League initiative is "delighted" by the turnout of clubs at a meeting in Dundalk.
www.bbc.co.uk
Is this something you guys would be interested in?
Cat Milk Supreme
Ancient Mariner
While not a follower of the local game, I am pretty sure that the supporters of many Northern Irish teams would cause violence at matches, home and away. Through the prism of Brexit, you have seen the DUPs reluctance to have the north be aligned more with the south in any way. Translate this attitude to the rank and file supporters of many northern football teams. But, like I say, I don't follow the local game. A few boys in work do, I shall gauge opinion next week.
Black Wizard
Pleb Hunter
Such as the "No Surrender" types? It was of the first things I thought of after I read the story. Sport is supposed to be something that brings people together and helps bridge political divides, but football often brings out the worst in people. Ireland has one Rugby team and everyone seems to be happy, and football is the only sport I can think of that has frequent racist incidents from fans. Politics is also inextricably linked to football in a way that no other sport is. When England play Argentina the Falkland Islands always swirls around but when the two countries play Rugby matches that issue doesn't matter.
The article I posted links to another story about some sort of Irish Super Cup between the two league champions which is a nice idea. Perhaps it's best to keep the idea of an all-Ireland league on ice for the time being and see how politics plays out with regards to the border before making any concrete plans.
srfc
Ancient Mariner
@Niall Kielt @srfc I was reading about the prospect of an all-Ireland league earlier.
All-Island league: Organisers 'delighted' at turnout of clubs at Dundalk meeting
The businessman leading the proposed All-Island Football League initiative is "delighted" by the turnout of clubs at a meeting in Dundalk.
Is this something you guys would be interested in?
Not hugely, because it won't last. There was several cross-border competitions down through the years, the most recent being the Setanta Cup which ran for about 10 years from the mid 2000's to 2015. It basically finished up because the teams from the south were a good bit stronger than the teams from the north, so the northern teams lost interest.
I liked the Setanta cup and would be happy if something similar was brought back, but not a full league campaign at the expense of out own league.
I highly recommend this article on racism in English football:
theathletic.com
This is racism in English football. This is not a short piece. But it’s an important one.
The Athletic speaks to those affected up and down the country and finds hurt and anger across the game...
theathletic.com
Cat Milk Supreme
Ancient Mariner
Great article, cheers. There have been a few interviews recently with Kick It Out on Talksport where they have highlighted many of the issues raised in this article so it does seem that people are being made aware that the English game is far from immune but I've certainly noticed more coverage given to events and problems in Eastern Europe than the lower levels of the English game.I highly recommend this article on racism in English football:
This is racism in English football. This is not a short piece. But it’s an important one.
The Athletic speaks to those affected up and down the country and finds hurt and anger across the game...
A point raised in the article, which is spot on, it will take a high profile walk off or 2 to spur the powers that be into meaningful action.
"Congleton, whose spectators were apparently responsible for the alleged racist abuse, were fined £160. Padiham were fined £165 for abandoning the game."
The above highlights the ineptitude of the governing bodies approach to all this.
And the medias role is well highlighted by the fact that one of the anti-racism charities said they were inundated with requests for comment after England-Bulgaria but the following week, after incidents at games in England they received zero calls.
A high profile walk off will speak to the financial sensibilities of the governing bodies and the medias desire for Big Stories.
Black Wizard
Pleb Hunter
Cracking match at Anfield right now. 4-4 in the League Cup between the Liverpool Kids and Arsenal. Even Özil is playing well. 
A Manchester United player also scored a penalty this evening. Big shocker.
A Manchester United player also scored a penalty this evening. Big shocker.
Cat Milk Supreme
Ancient Mariner
Not often you get more goals in normal time than in the penalty shootout.
How did Utd get the pen, did James dive again?
How did Utd get the pen, did James dive again?
Black Wizard
Pleb Hunter
No idea, I haven't seen it. That's three wins in a row for Manchester United now. What the hell is going on?
Cat Milk Supreme
Ancient Mariner
Give Ole a new contract
Black Wizard
Pleb Hunter
Be careful what you wish for. Last time Ole was given a new contract the team got shit again.
srfc
Ancient Mariner
I'm pretty drunk now so apologies for any typos, but we won the Cup today for the first time in 32 fucking years, and the first time since I've been a fan. The 25th time too so its pretty special as well.
Lot of fake uproar being created because our goal keeper (a northern ireland protestant) didn't face the tricolour during the national anthem. As far as everyone at Shamrock Rovers is concerned no one gave a flying fuck because Alan Mannus is the best keeper we ever had.
Lot of fake uproar being created because our goal keeper (a northern ireland protestant) didn't face the tricolour during the national anthem. As far as everyone at Shamrock Rovers is concerned no one gave a flying fuck because Alan Mannus is the best keeper we ever had.
Black Wizard
Pleb Hunter
Enjoy the moment, it could be another 32 fucking years.
I remember Alan Mannus. He used to play for a Scottish team, St. Johnstone I think.
National anthems cause more trouble than they're worth at sporting events, especially if it's not even an international match. Still, your man could've just looked at the orange stripe and pretended Arlene Foster was there. Nice win for Shamrock Rovers - perhaps they'll be rewarded with a visit from Rangers in the UEFA Cup qualifiers next summer?
srfc
Ancient Mariner
Yeah, he won the Scottish Cup with them, so he now has cup winners medals in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Black Wizard
Pleb Hunter
His Scottish Cup winner's medal is a source of sadness for me. St. Johnstone beat Dundee United 2-0 in that match. 
Have a guess who played at left-back for Dundee United in that match. You've all heard of him.
Have a guess who played at left-back for Dundee United in that match. You've all heard of him.
| Full name | Alan Mannus |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 19 May 1982 (age 37) |
| Place of birth | Toronto, Ontario, Canada[1] |
He should get over it.
srfc
Ancient Mariner
Wow, that Scottish Cup Runners Up medal probably gets a bit overlooked on the mantlepiece now.
srfc
Ancient Mariner
Big Al responds to the "controversy" in the Belfast Telegraph, the irony being that the Belfast Telegraph are the ones who generated the controversy in the first place.
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
Our former full back, and internet character, Pajo Flynn weighs in on the subject
Northern Ireland goalkeeper Alan Mannus says he never meant to cause offence after anthem row
Former Northern Ireland goalkeeper Alan Mannus has insisted he did not mean to cause offence or disrespect to anyone by his actions at the FAI Cup final.
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
Our former full back, and internet character, Pajo Flynn weighs in on the subject