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Northern Ireland supporters. INPHO/Darren Kidd/Presseye
Northern Exposure

Northern Ireland fans' charity game in Dublin off amid 'sectarian fears'

Dublin officials, reportedly, advise against supporters having pre-match kick-about.

A CHARITY FOOTBALL game between fans of the Republic of Ireland and the North has been called off because of ‘fears of sectarian trouble’.

The two sides meet at the Aviva Stadium on May 24 and supporters had planned to face off beforehand.

The BBC reports that Gardaí recommended that the fans’ game should not take place. There was some incidents of disorder when Northern Ireland met Scotland at Lansdowne Rd in February.

The BBC reports: “A leaked email from a Police Service of Northern Ireland officer also spoke of the ‘unfortunate anti-social/sectarian behaviour of a number of our fans at the Scotland game’.

The email added that the FAI and the Gardai had been criticised by local residents groups in February. The planned charity match was to benefit the Dublin-based head injury charity Headway.

Read more at BBC Northern Ireland>

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