Kneejerk responses to the violence which marred the visit of Bohemians to Derry City for their recent League of Ireland fixture only serves to ratchet up tensions, while allowing the PSNI and footballing authorities to escape their culpability for the disorder, says Garrett Greene, Workers’ Party representative in Cabra-Glasnevin.

Greene said: “The disturbing scenes from before, during and after Derry City played host to Bohemians on Friday night should be condemned. It seems clear that some people on both sides went out with the intention of causing trouble. This does not mean, however, that we should let the PSNI and the footballing authorities off the hook for their long-standing negligence when it comes to security arrangements in and around the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.”

“It is unacceptable for somebody to travel to a football match and attack the local community. Equally, it is unacceptable to retaliate by attacking the travelling support as a whole. However, the FAI, Derry City FC and the PSNI ultimately have to take responsibility for allowing these acts to unfold on their watch. It is not the first such incident at the Brandywell, and there are clearly serious questions that those parties must ask themselves when it comes to security arrangements in the Brandywell. Local residents and football fans alike should not have to worry about their safety on matchday.”

“It is deeply disappointing, though sadly not surprising, to see certain politicians, including elected representatives of the SDLP and Sinn Féin, rush to condemn Bohs fans rather than seek answers from the police and footballing authorities about how the incidents developed. They have opted to push a simplistic, hometown narrative rather than see the wider social problems in Derry which led to the conditions that allowed for the violence last night. The media have so far largely failed to hold them to account on this too.”

“Dissident republican organisations have done likewise, releasing statements encouraging and threatening a violent response, as well as abusing the Bohemian support. Perhaps they should ask themselves what role their encouragement of antisocial behaviour has played in creating the conditions for what occurred. In particular, in both nationalist and loyalist communities, increasing sectarian and antisocial behaviour is associated with illegal bonfires. This is an issue that must be tackled, and was another factor in last night’s disorder.”

“The League of Ireland is experiencing an explosion of interest at present, and football in this country is at a pivotal point. The next time the FAI go to government asking for funding, the first excuse the government will have will be the picture of a young man shooting an improvised shoulder-held fireworks launcher at women and children, as well as videos of people fighting on the streets with hammers and other weapons. Not being able to assure people of their physical safety at a football match is a major own goal for the footballing authorities.”

“Bohs and Derry City fans have a long history of friendship, and it can only be hoped that last night will not undermine this in the future. However, lazy caricatures of what unfolded and who’s to blame will only damage the great progress that domestic football has made in recent years, and will do nothing to stop events like this happening again.”