Waterford FC express ‘disappointment' after hearing of alleged racial abuse of Shamrock Rovers teen Victor Ozhianvuna
WATERFORD FC have expressed their 'disappointment' after an alleged racist remark was aimed at 16-year-old Shamrock Rovers player Victor Ozhianvuna by a home supporter.
It is claimed the comment was made before Friday's SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division clash at the RSC.
Advertisement
An investigation is underway after the visitors reported the incident to the match delegate, who will now send his report to the League of Ireland before any possible sanctions can be taken by the FAI Disciplinary Control Unit.
It's understood that the alleged incident occurred while the substitute was warming up during the first half of the game with Ozhianvuna going on to take no part in a fixture that
After the media were made aware of the allegations in the aftermath of the contest, Waterford FC released a statement saying that they are 'fully co-operating with authorities on the matter.'
It read: 'Waterford Football Club are disappointed to be made aware of an allegation of racism towards a Shamrock Rovers player during our SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division game on Friday, May 16.
Advertisement
Read More On Irish Football
'We are a community-based football club that prides ourselves on our inclusion and are proud to welcome all to the RSC.
'The club takes all reports of discrimination incredibly seriously and is fully co-operating with the authorities on the matter.
'We stand side by side with the League of Ireland and our supporters in taking a zero-tolerance approach to tackling racism within the game.
'Waterford Football Club would encourage anyone who witnesses such behaviour to report in confidence via our direct number 051-271160 or via email to office@waterfordfc.ie.'
Advertisement
Most read in Football
Bradley's outfit capitalised on two huge errors that gave the league leaders all three points.
A brilliant Padraig Amond header had put the hosts in front inside ten minutes.
Celtic ultras make their point on fan engagement as Hoops get trophy day guard of honour
But they were the cause of their own downfall as they were undone by goals from Rory Gaffney, Michael Noonan, and Graham Burke – with the latter two goals coming from defensive errors.
It was a header of quality that gave the hosts the lead on ten minutes.
Advertisement
Ryan Burke found space for himself out on the left before putting in a wonderful ball that saw Amond get in front of his marker to flick an unstoppable header to the roof of the net from 12 yards.
Stephen McMullan denied the Hoops a certain equalising goal on 23 minutes when Josh Honohan played a super ball over the top that sent Aaron Greene clear straight on goal.
1
Victor Ozhianvuna was allegedly racially abused while warming up as a substitute
But the netminder saved at the feet of the attacker as he tried to take the ball around him.
Advertisement
Rovers were celebrating a leveller just two minutes later.
Adam Matthews played a long throw into the right-hand corner that saw Greene send in a first-time cross for Gaffney, and he applied a neat right-footed finish past the helpless McMullan.
It took some more heroic goalkeeping from McMullan to deny the visitors the lead goal on 36 minutes when Jack Byrne swung over a right-wing cross that picked out the run of Josh Honohan.
And after his header was superbly kept out, Gaffney struck the outside of the post with the rebound.
Advertisement
Rovers were gifted the lead on 76 minutes. Blues keeper Stephen McMullan, who was having a top display for the hosts up to that point, inexplicably played a clearance straight to Noonan.
The teen had only been on the field for seven minutes, and with his first touch, he couldn't believe his luck as he guided the ball to an empty net from outside the penalty area.
A third goal followed for the tabletoppers deep into second-half injury-time, largely thanks to Josh Honohan.
Capping off a week where he was called up to the Republic of Ireland squad, he dispossessed Navajo Bakboord before releasing Graham Burke, who beat the offside trap before finishing past McMullan.
Advertisement
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sunday World
11 minutes ago
- Sunday World
Two Irish tourists arrested on suspicion of raping Irishwoman in Magaluf
The pair, who police say they believe are brothers, and the woman are said to be Irish passport holders. Two Irish tourists have been arrested on suspicion of raping a compatriot in the Majorcan party resort of Magaluf. The pair, who police say they believe are brothers, were hauled to court today hours after being held. It was not immediately clear if they have already appeared before an investigating judge to be remanded in prison or released on bail. The alleged sex attack they are being investigated over occurred in the early hours of this morning. Magaluf. Photo: Getty News in 90 Seconds - 5th June 2025 It is thought to have happened at a hotel in Magaluf although details are still sketchy. A spokesman for the Civil Guard said today: 'Two men, supposedly brothers, met the woman and her female friend and after a few hours, invited them to continue partying in their room. 'There the victim, after consuming alcohol, began to feel unwell and fell asleep. 'When she woke up she realised she had been sexually assaulted. 'Police attended and helped the victim. After interviewing her and carrying out a rapid investigation, they tracked down the suspected offenders, aged 23 and 20, and proceeded to arrest them. 'The two men were handed over to the courts earlier today.' Well-placed sources said the two men and the woman are all Irish passport holders. Court officials could not be reached early this afternoon. Both suspects were escorted into the court building in the Majorcan capital Palma separately in handcuffs by an armed police officer.
The Journal
26 minutes ago
- The Journal
Gerry Adams to donate €100k libel payout to charity and defends claim he 'put manners on the BBC'
GERRY ADAMS HAS announced that he will donate the €100,000 in libel damages from the BBC to 'good causes', including 'the children of Gaza', Irish-based homeless support groups and Irish language organisations. Adams was awarded the significant cash sum on Friday after a High Court jury ruled that the BBC defamed him in a 2016 programme, which alleged his involvement in the murder of British spy Denis Donaldson. The court found the broadcaster had falsely implicated Adams in sanctioning the 2006 killing of Donaldson, a former senior IRA member later exposed as an MI5 agent. Adams denies any involvement in the murder. In a video shared on social media today, Adams said that the money would go to various charities and community groups – including Gaza charities, Irish homeless organisations and An Cumann Cabhrach, which supports republican prisoners and their families. In the video, Adams also defended his comments outside the court on Friday, where he told reporters that he had 'put manners on the BBC'. The comment was widely criticised, with the Irish secretary of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) describing Adam's line as 'chilling'. Adams rejected this, claiming today that the success of his case was a 'very important and very significant breach' in the BBC's 'monopoly on how it broadcasts 'news' especially in Ireland'. Advertisement 'As I said outside the Four Courts, I took this case to put manners on this institution – I stand over that comment,' Adams said in a video shared to Youtube by Sinn Féin. Sinn Féin / YouTube 'I reject the over-the-top responses to it.' He added: 'Journalism was a victor, not a loser, but only if the lessons are learned and acted upon. 'The British Broadcasting Corporation is supposed to be a public service provider. It is paid from public funds. It upholds the ethos of the British state in Ireland, that goes without saying, but it should be publicly accountable for its broadcasting content. 'It rarely is. That's what this court case did. That's what the jury did. The BBC lost.' Later in the video, Adams said that journalists 'bear an onorous responsibility not to make false accusations based on unreliable and or nonexistent supporting evidence'. 'There's also been predictable responses from all the usual verdicts to the verdict in this cae. This is not the time to defend bad journalism. This is the time to learn the lessons. 'They too should stop whinging – this is senior hurling.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
26 minutes ago
- The Journal
Man held victim in headlock as second attacker stabbed him during Dublin city attack, court hears
A 24-YEAR-OLD man allegedly held an Algerian national in a headlock in Dublin city centre on Monday while a second attacker stabbed and critically injured him, a court heard. Abdul Kouadria, 24, with an address at Gardiner Street, Dublin 1 and previously of Richmond Road, Dublin 3, was refused bail by Judge Michele Finan at Dublin District Court today. The Irish-Algerian accused was charged with assault causing harm to the man who remains in ICU at the Mater Hospital, after he suffered life-threatening injuries at at Rosie Hackett Bridge, Eden Quay, Dublin 1 on Monday afternoon. Objecting to bail, Detective Garda Sean Dineen cited the seriousness of the case and submitted that the accused was a flight risk. He mentioned that Kouadria had been born in Ireland, but mainly lived outside the country and returned about three years ago. He said that there was an altercation at 4.30pm on Monday, and according to onlookers, the accused and the injured man 'were engaged in a scuffle on the bridge.' It was alleged Kouadria 'placed him in a headlock and dragged him on the ground,' and another man approached. It was unclear who brought the knife to the scene, but witnesses purportedly saw the second alleged attacker stab the man using several stabbing and slashing motions. The detective said that the garda position was that the critical injuries were a result of a 'joint enterprise assault', inflicted by the accused and a second male. It was alleged that Kouadria took the man's jumper and walked off. His runners have been seized and subject to analysis, and garda divers recovered the knife from the Liffey and it will be examined. CCTV evidence has been harvested, the court heard. Advertisement Detective Garda Dineen said that while Kouadria was born in Ireland, he had only lived here since 2023. Defence solicitor Kelly Breen said the case was at a very early stage, and the evidence could be subject to cross-examination in the correct forum. In exchanges with Detective Garda Dineen, she said her client was not alleged to have been brandishing the knife in the CCTV footage. He replied, 'No, but he holds the injured party in a headlock while the second male stabs the injured party.' The solicitor accepted that Mr Kouadria had been abroad, adding that he had been in Saudi Arabia, where his father lived. She submitted that her client had a presumption of innocence and bail, and although the charge was very serious, strict conditions could be imposed. The court heard there were issues over his residence, and the detective said the accused used a Dublin 9 address but had been accessing homeless services at Gardiner Street. The solicitor asked the court to consider fixing bail, subject to him offering a permanent address, obeying a curfew, surrendering travel documents, and providing a contact phone number. Judge Finan highlighted that the accused enjoyed the presumption of innocence. However, she held that Detective Garda Dineen made a very cogent application, and she refused to grant bail. The accused, who did not address the court, was remanded in custody to appear again next week while gardai seek directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. Yesterday, a 31-year-old man accused of inflicting severe knife slashing wounds during the same incident was also denied bail. Adel Attal, from Algeria but living in Ireland for two years, and with an address in State accommodation on Henry Street, Mallow, Co Cork, was charged with assault causing harm and brandishing a knife as a weapon during the incident. His application to be released revealed that the injured man suffered serious stab wounds to his stomach, back, and legs, requiring emergency surgery.
