The new Irish League

[Wasp]

May 21, 2008 7:54:15 GMT @setanta said:

May 20, 2008 22:45:28 GMT Wasp said:

Try asking the ref about the abuse he got from certain DC officials in the changing rooms. He was told by the same people that he and his linesmen got exactly what they wanted and that was an all blue final meaning 2 Protestant teams which BTW couldn't be more wrong.

Coleraine is supported by about 70% or maybe 75% Protestant, has a mixed team, a Catholic manager and is far from a Prod blue team as officials from DC said. There anger was there for all to hear.

Whats's the Refs name and I'll look on the League site for his match report.

Well I was right in my assumption, DC have played the sectarian card just as Bonnar and co did after the semi final. Maybe DC should ask themselves about how many of there staff and players are infact Protestant before they make those accusations.

Setanta how the hell would I know the name of the referree?

[Wasp]

But apart from that I do feel DC are being unfairly treated and I would like to see the outcome of the appeal. Linfield fans were on the radio this mornin g and they said they would rather play DC than Bangor.

There claim and rant on the sectarian card just ruined alot of the sympathy I had for them.

[Bilk]

May 21, 2008 17:57:05 GMT Wasp said:

But apart from that I do feel DC are being unfairly treated and I would like to see the outcome of the appeal. Linfield fans were on the radio this mornin g and they said they would rather play DC than Bangor.

There claim and rant on the sectarian card just ruined alot of the sympathy I had for them.

Let's be honest WASP, I don't often argue with you, but in the heat of the moment, and if you honestly believed you were robbed, would you not in the same situation say something similar. I'm honest enough to say that I probably would. My son is a FIFA referee, and he refereed one or two linfield games. And despite thefact that he has been a lifelong blueman, I will not tell you what abuse he has had to put up with at the hands of linfield supporters and plyers at times. Now what is said or done immediately after a match, like him I pay no heed to. But I do hope in their argument with the IFA they do not play the sectarian card, they will lose lot of support in the unionist community if they do. And at the moment they have the full support of people like my son.

[Wasp]

Bilk I understand in the heat of an arguement, but at a meeting at DC social club last night the sectarian card was still being played and by Bonner himself. It was on the radio this morning and I heard the 'we are rejected because we are a catholic team from west belfast' which was met by applause and cheering. This and things similar was said repeatedly by most speakers there.

The man who built the odyssey or had a part in it was also there and promised to build adequate grounds and picture houses/restaurants etc. He will supply the materials. Most if not all of those who were interviewed played the sectarian card.

[Bilk]

May 21, 2008 21:46:14 GMT Wasp said:

Bilk I understand in the heat of an arguement, but at a meeting at DC social club last night the sectarian card was still being played and by Bonner himself. It was on the radio this morning and I heard the 'we are rejected because we are a catholic team from west belfast' which was met by applause and cheering. This and things similar was said repeatedly by most speakers there.

The man who built the odyssey or had a part in it was also there and promised to build adequate grounds and picture houses/restaurants etc. He will supply the materials. Most if not all of those who were interviewed played the sectarian card.

I didn't see or hear this, but if it's true it's sad, and it's actually letting the money grabbing baskets in the IFA off the hook. Because that is what it's about, it's not sectarianism it's about money, and like I said if they start playing that card it will let them off the hook. Unionists will not be able to back them for obvious reasons, not the least because it has nothing to do with politics or religeon, it is about who will bring in the most bucks.

[Jim]

You can surely see why some people think they're being pushed out because they are from west belfast? They aren't the first to have problems with the IFA over the years.

[An Fear Dubh]

I appreciate the honesty and your ability to say it in reply 35 Bilk.

I was not at the meeting in the DC but I did talk at length to my mate afterwards who was there. I also so and heard Raymond Bonner and he picked his words very carefully in his media interviews and I did not hear him claim that sectarianism was the factor.

As a GAA person who works with youth. It would suit my recruitment if DC was small time. Our numbers have been effected by the popularity of DC youth schemes, but only in the last year. My aim is to provide activities for youth and introduce them to other things and a social life that is not about hanging around street corners, stealing cars and taking drugs. The DC do exactly the same thing, so I want them to flourish, because the important thing is the youth not what sport they play.

The DC have some really odd rules in the club, and I often slag my mate about them. They are generally a working class club, and most of these rules are borrowed from other rule books and a few old codgers added the weird ones! For years the DC has been trying to get themselves accepted by the IFA and the clubs in the top league. So much so that many 'nationalists' have felt they have in the past belittled their own pride and dignity. But they are not a political party they do not plan a strategy of acceptance, because they are only concerned about playing soccer. And do not really understand the politics of the IFA.

Once you understand this, you should be able to recognize as Jim said in reply 38 why some might think it is about where they are from. And you might also see that ignorant others outside of the club are sneering at them, and saying of course they do not want you for your religion and location. And this is unwisely taken in by a working class based membership and they voice this suggestion because it gets support from the puffed up fools. Yes it would be a mistake to use the 'sectarian card' but I do not think we are dealing with a club that has a great understanding of the subtle art of politics. They are mostly working on how they feel, their emotions.

I generally agree with Bilk that it is about IFA politics, and not the wider politics. But that can not be removed or separated as it is in society. Money is the core issue but there are other issues.

[Bilk]

May 21, 2008 23:12:37 GMT Jim said:

You can surely see why some people think they're being pushed out because they are from west belfast? They aren't the first to have problems with the IFA over the years.

I can fully understand why they might think it and even say it. In this god forsken part of the world we think everything comes down to sectarian politics. Sometimes it is just that, but I don't think so here, I think it comes down to money, as all in football does today. So much so that if Man U had been playing Chelsea in my garden. Not only would I not have watched it, I would've phoned the peelers to come and shift them.

[Wasp]

On the radio this evening the sf rep (I can't remeber the name) said that people could be taking this as a sectarian decision. I myself have seen the great work within the various communities in West Belfast, tremendous work is being done by all involved although much, much more work needs to be taken on by all sides. I would also add that I have learned much by the community spirt in particular west Belfast.

But this claim by DC is wrong and will lose them much support by playing this card.

[Wasp]

As I said I heard this on the radio in the morning and I could have misquoted someone, now incase I stated wrong here is a link, click on good morning Ulster,Wednesday and listen. You will hear 'what many described as a sectarian decision, the ifa are a sectarian outfit and the decision was made because they are a Catholic team from west Belfast, Bonner said '...there's a political bias to this decision...and the ifa should hang their heads in shame.'

dave.org.uk/streams/Radio%20Ulster.html

Forward to about Ihr 30 mins before and after the news.

[An Fear Dubh]

I have listened for 1hr + 40secs and I will go back and listen again, later today. But Raymond Bonner only got two sentences out at 1hr and 20sec. And all he said, ..... the IFA should hang their head, the word sectarianism was not said by Bonner. A later snippet (1hr 30secs) someone else spoke and said there was political bias. If you know the exact time that would help. But as yet I have not found your quotes.

[Wasp]

I think the whole thing came in about 1hr 37 or so, maybe close to 1hr 40 mins. I paused the player to post what was said and it was Bonner who said political bias.

[Wasp]

AFD did you get a lsitewn to this? Just wandering why there has been no reply.

[An Fear Dubh]

Sorry Wasp, I have not had the time yet, I will get round to it but I am not sure when.

I do have a life other than this forum, I am assuming you are correct but as yet I have not heard it. And I do know you have a tendancy to 'mis-quote', so while I believe you in this case, I want to hear it for myself first.

[Wasp]

No probs.