DUNDALK, Ireland – League of Ireland funding is in jeopardy following a troubling incident of fan violence at Friday night’s clash between Dundalk and Drogheda United at Oriel Park. Sports Minister Patrick O’Donovan has announced a pause on all astroturf funding for clubs within the league, citing “reckless endangerment” and “criminal damage” stemming from the throwing of flares during the match.
The incident, which occurred during the Louth derby, left a 12-year-old supporter with burns to the face after being struck by a flare. Both Dundalk and Drogheda United have issued a joint statement condemning the actions of a “minority of individuals,” and are cooperating with authorities.
Minister O’Donovan, who was in attendance to mark the installation of a new, government-funded pitch and floodlights, described the scene as “like an air raid,” with flares causing significant damage to the newly laid artificial surface. The pitch, which cost €500,000 to install, sustained approximately 51 scorch marks of varying depths, according to Dundalk FC CEO Joe McGuinness.
“Taxpayers’ money literally going up in smoke,” O’Donovan stated on RTÉ Radio 1, expressing his outrage at the damage and the potential danger to spectators. He has requested a meeting with Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan to explore potential legislative changes to address the issue of flares at matches, referencing similar measures taken in England to combat football hooliganism.
The Minister emphasized that the funding pause will remain in effect until he receives a “sufficient response” from the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and the League of Ireland, outlining concrete proposals to prevent future incidents. He did not rule out the possibility of making the possession of flares at matches a criminal offense.
“If it’s a thing that the FAI come back to me and the League of Ireland come back to me and say that there’s nothing that can be done about this, well, we’ll have to look at legislation,” O’Donovan said. He rejected the notion that flares are simply “part and parcel” of the football atmosphere, calling it a dangerous and unacceptable justification for reckless behavior.
Beyond the damage to the pitch and the injury to the young supporter, the incident also resulted in public order issues at Dundalk’s Clarke train station. Iarnród Éireann reported that flares were set off in the car park area between rival supporter groups, causing scorching to timber floors and vandalism to heritage sign displays within the station itself. Gardaí arrested one man in his 20s in connection with a public order incident following the match.
Dundalk FC CEO Joe McGuinness confirmed that the club is reviewing its security measures for future games at Oriel Park. He stated that the injured supporter was “quite shook” by the incident and expressed regret for the disruption caused to the volunteers who had worked tirelessly to prepare the ground for the season.
“Rivalry is part of what makes fixtures between Dundalk FC and Drogheda United FC so special,” read a joint statement from the clubs. “But it must always remain passionate, respectful, and safe. There is no justification for actions that put lives at risk or damage facilities used by young people and the wider community.”
The clubs have pledged full cooperation with An Garda Síochána and the FAI disciplinary process, and are assessing the extent of the damage to the pitch. Minister O’Donovan made it clear that his department will not cover the cost of repairs, and called for lifetime bans and criminal prosecutions for those responsible.
The incident raises serious questions about safety and security at League of Ireland matches, and the potential for further disruption if effective measures are not implemented. The future of astroturf funding for clubs across the league now hangs in the balance, dependent on the response of the FAI and League of Ireland to the Minister’s demands.
