NI Conservatives’ spokesman for sport, Trevor Ringland, has described the violent protest which caused Saturday Irish Premiership football match between Crusaders and Cliftonville to be cancelled as “thoroughly shameful”.
“A small number of protesters appear to have little or no respect for their fellow citizens or even their own communities” Trevor observed. “They’re prepared to disrupt business, leisure and even sport. This protest was particularly deplorable because it seems to have had sectarian motives, due to the perceived religious make-up of the Cliftonville support.”
“To add to that sectarian undercurrent, to add to the disgraceful violence against police officers, this protest was an attack on Crusaders football club and its supporters, an institution which is at the heart of the community in north Belfast. A small number of protesters managed to stop upwards of 2,500 people enjoying an eagerly anticipated afternoon of sport.”
“It’s particularly disappointing, because Crusaders have put considerable time and effort into building relationships across communities. Indeed Saturday’s match was to be the culmination of a great deal of work which the club had facilitated between local residents, Crusaders and Cliftonville supporters. The protesters have absolutely no right to continue to disrupt people’s lives in this way and this attack on sport was thoroughly shameful”.