A Sligo fan ws asked to remove the offending item at last night’s game and posted this letter of complaint to their forum…
I will be making a complaint with the F.A.I. and Derry City F.C. about the enforced removal of a tri-colour flag tonight. The flag was not blocking any signage or fans view. It was simply hung on a railing. We were then informed by the(friendly) stewards that it had to be removed due to TV Complaints because we were up the North. I thought they were taking the **** but then informed us that a board member/director of Derry City(MBurns) saw the flag from the board room and ordered it to be removed. The stewards were made do his dirty work and they themselves agreed it is a joke policy that Burns has come up with.
So, ye play in the League of Ireland and yet fans are not allowed hang an Ireland flag. FFS, get a grip lads. It’s a free country and that policy won’t work unless there is a total ban on all countries flags. There was a Scottish flag(which I brought) hung up beside the Ireland flag and yet that was allowed stay. I’m sure Derry fans will agree it is a seriously stupid policy and as one of the stewards quite rightly pointed out…telling fans to remove tri-colour could turn nasty.
Some forum members are aware of my feelings towards the use of our national flag at sporting events. My guess is that this Sligo fan probably draped this flag over his shoulders on the way to the match or else he probably had it rolled up in a ball inside an aul bag before he judiciously “hung [it] on a railing”. He should show some respect. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had the name of some disreputable public house emblazoned across the flag as well. There should only ever be one national flag at any sporting event in this country…the one flying on the flagpole.
Some forum members are aware of my feelings towards the use of our national flag at sporting events. My guess is that this Sligo fan probably draped this flag over his shoulders on the way to the match or else he probably had it rolled up in a ball inside an aul bag before he judiciously “hung [it] on a railing”. He should show some respect. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had the name of some disreputable public house emblazoned across the flag as well. There should only ever be one national flag at any sporting event in this country…the one flying on the flagpole.
Is that the publication you recommended me to read before humbug?
Anything else worth picking up in the OPW at present?
Anyone see the judicious goal Rice got for Bohs last night? It was sublime.
I was surprised to see Flano logged on here last night rather than being at the game - hope you’re not turning into a part-time Eircom League supporter like fingal raven.
I read that flags document this morning - some of it is just pointless - the stuff about parading the flag and crossed staffs and stuff is just a legacy from other countries with a military history. It shouldn’t concern us and we shouldn’t be bothered about that.
The best sentence in the document was “The misrepresentation of the national flag [yellow instead of orange] should be actively discouraged.”
I remember a headline in the Sunday Triubune after Italia '90: “Green White and Golden Memories!”
Pure nonsense. As bad as the sign at the airport saying, “Ireland your magic.”
Speaking of the airport, I remember arriving into Dublin via the B gate peir and just before the baggage reclaim there was a banner advertisement with the lads from Boyzone on it, the caption read something like “welcome to Irealnd/Dublin home of Boyzone”. Twas enough to make me want to go back to Mallorca!!
