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Sunday World
3 days ago
- Sport
- Sunday World
Hooligan ‘supporters' of Derry and Bohs had pre-arranged ‘fight' to coincide with game
The Sunday World understands the disturbances, which included a firework being thrown onto Derry's pitch, were planned in advance. Violent scenes unfolded outside the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium before and after the League of Ireland fixture against Dublin side Bohemians Videos circulating online show people, some of them with their faces covered, fighting in the street. Videos circulating online show people, some of them with their faces covered, fighting in the street. Videos circulating online show people, some of them with their faces covered, fighting in the street. Rival hooligan gangs clashed in an organised fight in Derry on Friday night. Two people were injured after rival fans clashed with sticks, bats and iron bars outside the Brandywell as Derry City took on fellow League of Ireland side Bohemians. The Sunday World understands the disturbances, which included a firework being thrown onto Derry's 5G pitch, were planned in advance. A group of self-styled 'Ultras' attached to Derry were denied entry to the ground on Friday but had an arranged 'rumble' with a similar mob attached to the Bohs. It is also understood the majority of those involved on the Derry side were aged between eight and 18, say witnesses who attended the match. Videos circulating online show people, some of them with their faces covered, fighting in the street. Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 27th Sources also claim the rioters had been guarding the Meenan Square bonfire which has drawn criticism for bearing sectarian and anti-Israel images. 'The riot was arranged,' a source told the Sunday World. 'These idiots are just spoiling for a fight but they have to take on, so when the Bohs come to town there's an opportunity for a dust-up.' He said the Ultras are routinely refused access to the Brandywell. 'There's never any trouble at the Brandywell, these people aren't football fans,' one witness said. Social media posts linking to the trouble to dissident groups have been discounted, but a war of words has broken out between Bohs fans and those from Derry. Violent scenes unfolded outside the Ryan McBride Brandywell. Bohs Ultras have taunted their counterparts, claiming they were beaten on their own patch. A statement posted online by the Derry IRSP claimed a mob of '100 drugged-up Bohs fans'' set about invading the Bogside armed with hatchets and knives. 'We commend the resilience of the Bogside, for 50 years they have fought off invasion from the Crown forces so it was obvious a mob of jumped-up junkies wouldn't have had a chance.' Videos circulating online show people, some of them with their faces covered, fighting in the street on Friday. SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan was at the game and said he was left frightened by what he had witnessed. And Sinn Féin MLA Padraig Delargy said 'so-called football supporters from Dublin' attacked local people. The PSNI said disorder was focused in the Lecky Road and Lone Moor Road areas. Videos circulating online show people, some of them with their faces covered, fighting in the street. 'Shortly after 7pm on Friday evening, police were made aware of two large groups of rival football supporters in the area attacking each other near the Lecky Road flyover with sticks, bats and iron bars and causing damage to buildings and cars parked in the area. 'A teenage boy and a man aged in his 20s sustained injuries as a result of this incident and were taken to hospital for treatment. 'Further disorder then occurred in the vicinity of the Brandywell stadium during and after a football match which was taking place. 'There were people gathered with sticks, golf clubs and fireworks. 'They were roaming the perimeter prior to the match ending, and they were masked-up as well,' he said. 'So while I have pointed the finger, accurately I believe, at the people who came on the bus for starting the bother, the stuff afterwards was retaliatory.' The match was also briefly suspended after a flare was thrown from outside the ground onto the pitch. Mr Delargy, an MLA for Foyle, also condemned the trouble. He said many people in the area had felt frightened. 'The sight of masked youths armed with an array of weapons and fighting in the streets before turning on the PSNI was terrifying for local residents, including children, who witnessed this appalling violence,' he said. 'In what seems to have been a pre-arranged attack connected to a football match at the Brandywell, the violence erupted when so-called football supporters from Dublin attacked local youths as well as cars and property belonging to residents. 'That is disgraceful and the violence that took place on our streets needs to be condemned. 'It threatened the safety and wellbeing of local residents and stands in stark contrast to the fantastic work that is going on in the area through the Féile and the redevelopment of Meenan Square.' The match finished in a 1-1 draw. Afolabi Akinyemi's first goal for the Candystripes broke the deadlock, before Ross Tierney levelled things for Bohemians. Superintendent William Calderwood said: 'We believe that the disorder we witnessed on Friday evening was pre-arranged and we will be reviewing all available footage to identify those involved. 'I would ask anyone with information or footage which could assist us with our enquiries to contact officers at Strand Road on 101, quoting reference number 1637 25/07/25. 'A report can be submitted online using the non-emergency reporting form via or you can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at
Metro
4 days ago
- Sport
- Metro
Masked hooligans shoot flares and chuck iron slabs in violent football clash
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Masked football hooligans battered each other with fireworks, golf clubs and iron slabs in a massive fight. Young fans of Bohemians FC and Derry City FC violently clashed before the two teams played each other in Derry, Northern Ireland. At least two men, including one teenager, were injured in the fighting on Friday. In one video, the two groups of youths, wearing masks, hoodies and tracksuits, clashed on either side of a metal fence. One man shoots an endless stream of fireworks 'like a machine gun' at the rival supporters. At the same time, his pals chuck heavy objects over the fence and wave golf clubs. It is at this moment that a little girl can be heard screaming 'Daddy' to an unidentified man. The gut-wrenching cry gets a reply of 'you're all right', before he tells the fighting youngsters: 'Calm down lads'. While some scatter from the missiles coming towards them, some youths on the other side of the fence attack back as the situation escalates. They pick up heavy slabs and throw them back over the railings. Footage from other parts of Derry show huge groups of masked young men attacking each other. Many throw planks of wood, and one can be heard shouting: 'Give it to 'em'. Following the violent scenes, the Police Service for Northern Ireland released a statement about the fights between some supporters of Bohemians FC and Derry City FC. They said the disorder kicked off at 7pm around Lecky Road and Lone Moor Road areas of Derry. It came as the second and third placed teams in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland faced-off. A teenage boy and a man in his 20s were injured in the clashes, which continued throughout the game around the Brandywell stadium. The match was even stopped for five minutes when a flare set fire to the artificial pitch. Superintendent William Calderwood said: 'We believe that the disorder we witnessed on Friday evening was pre-arranged and we will be reviewing all available footage to identify those involved.' They asked for people to come forward to help with their investigations. No arrests have been made and stadium staff helped to quell the violence. More Trending The football fixture itself ended in a 1-1 draw, with the goals scored shortly before and after half-time respectively. The game was peaceful, in contrast to the scenes outside, with only three yellow cards and no red cards handed out. Local representative Mark H Durkan said the violence had 'all the hallmarks of an organised attack' and said the fighting 'must stop before someone is killed.' He added: 'It is disgusting and disgraceful that so many football fans and families left the match in fear tonight due to violent clashes that occurred outside in what had all the hallmarks of an organised attack.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Mum and two children killed in Fermanagh shooting named and pictured MORE: easyJet's summer 2026 sale is here – these are the best destinations to book now MORE: Up to 280 locations of popular store chain are facing closure amid bankruptcy
The 42
4 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
Two people injured after rival football fans attack each other at Bohs and Derry City match
POLICE IN NORTHERN Ireland are appealing for information after two large groups of rival football fans attacked each other ahead of a Bohemians and Derry City football match last night. Videos posted online show teenagers with their faces covered throwing fireworks at each other and attacking each other with iron bars and bats ahead of the League of Ireland match between the Dublin and Derry teams. Damage was also done to buildings and cars parked in the area where the match was taking place, near Lecky Road flyover in Derry. The PSNI confirmed today that a teenage boy and a man in his twenties sustained injuries as a result of the incident and were taken to hospital for treatment. Advertisement Disorder continued during and after the match around the Brandywell stadium. 'Officers were in attendance and worked along with stadium staff to bring the disorder under control. No arrests have been made at this time,' the PSNI said in a statement. Superintendent William Calderwood said: 'We believe that the disorder we witnessed on Friday evening was pre-arranged and we will be reviewing all available footage to identify those involved.' The violence has been widely condemned by politicians in Northern Ireland. Local SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan, who was at the match, told the Belfast Telegraph that he was left frightened by the violence. Durkan condemned the trouble, saying 'thugs came to Derry masked and armed with an array of weapons.' 'A bus-load of people – I wouldn't call them fans – came here intent on causing bother,' he said. 'In terms of scale and the level of violence and danger to those in the vicinity, we haven't seen anything like this and I hope we never do again.' A spokesperson for Derry City FC declined to comment. Bohemians and the FAI have also been contacted. Written by Jane Matthews and posted on
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Irish Independent
Two hospitalised as Derry City and Bohemians fans clash with sticks, bats and iron bars
Violent scenes unfolded outside the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium in Derry before and after the League of Ireland fixture. Videos circulating online show people, some of them with their faces covered, fighting in the street. Today the PSNI said two people needed hospital treatment. Local SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan was at the game, and said he was left frightened by what he had witnessed. Sinn Fein MLA Padraig Delargy, meanwhile, said 'so-called football supporters from Dublin' attacked local people. Police believe the violence was orchestrated. The PSNI said disorder was focused in the Lecky Road and Lone Moor Road areas. 'Shortly after 7pm on Friday evening, police were made aware of two large groups of rival football supporters in the area attacking each other near the Lecky Road flyover with sticks, bats and iron bars and causing damage to buildings and cars parked in the area. "A teenage boy and a man aged in his 20s sustained injuries as a result of this incident and were taken to hospital for treatment. "Further disorder then occurred in the vicinity of the Brandywell stadium during and after a football match which was taking place. "Officers were in attendance and worked along with stadium staff to bring the disorder under control. No arrests have been made at this time.' Superintendent William Calderwood said: 'We believe that the disorder we witnessed on Friday evening was pre-arranged and we will be reviewing all available footage to identify those involved.' Speaking today, Mr Durkan condemned the trouble, saying 'thugs came to Derry masked and armed with an array of weapons.' He said: 'In terms of scale and the level of violence and danger to those in the vicinity, we haven't seen anything like this and I hope we never do again." Mr Durkan said he was late to the match due to an unrelated incident, and arrived to find the stadium 'in lockdown'. He said a bus-load of fans – separate to the organised Bohs travelling support – arrived in the city and caused problems, which continued after the full-time whistle when some locals retaliated. 'A bus-load of people - I wouldn't call them fans - came here intent on causing bother,' he said. 'I can't be certain it was an organised fight but there certainly seemed to be elements of choreography to their attack. 'The stewards at the Brandywell were under a lot of pressure. I was speaking to them in the second half and after the match, and they did their best in a very difficult situation. So too the police, who were liaising with the stewards and the security team at the Brandywell.' Mr Durkan described how he had to leave quickly after a group of visiting fans ran in his direction. 'At one point the Derry security team was trying to keep the Bohs fans in the ground but 40 or 50 broke away and just came towards where I was standing,' he added. 'It was genuinely scary. I don't scare easily but we did turn on our heels and go in the opposite direction. "People were genuinely frightened and that shouldn't be the case, especially when they go to a football match.' Mr Durkan said trouble continued as the game ended. 'There were people gathered with sticks, golf clubs and fireworks. They were roaming the perimeter prior to the match ending, and they were masked up as well,' he said. 'So while I have pointed the finger, accurately I believe, at the people who came on the bus for starting the bother, the stuff afterwards was retaliatory.' The match was also briefly suspended after a flare was thrown from outside the ground onto the pitch. Local Sinn Fein MLA Padraig Delargy also condemned the trouble. He said many people in the area had felt frightened. 'The sight of masked youths armed with an array of weapons, and fighting in the streets before turning on the PSNI, was terrifying for local residents, including children, who witnessed this appalling violence,' he said. 'In what seems to have been a pre-arranged attack connected to a football match at the Brandywell, the violence erupted when so-called football supporters from Dublin attacked local youths as well as cars and property belonging to residents. "That is disgraceful and the violence that took place on our streets needs to be condemned. "It threatened the safety and well-being of local residents and stands in stark contrast to the fantastic work that is going on in the area through the Féile and the redevelopment of Meenan Square.' The match finished in a 1-1 draw. Afolabi Akinyemi's first goal for the Candystripes broke the deadlock, before Ross Tierney levelled things for Bohemians.
BBC News
4 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Londonderry: Two taken to hospital after football match disorder
A teenage boy and a man in his 20s have been taken to hospital for injuries sustained during disorder in Londonderry on Friday around 19:00 BST police were made aware of two large groups of rival football supporters in the Lecky Road and Lone Moor Road were attacking each other with sticks, bats and iron bars and causing damage to buildings and cars parked in the area, police have disorder also occurred during and after a match between Derry City and Bohemians at the Ryan McBride Brandywell stadium in Londonderry. The Police Service of Northern Ireland said they believed the disorder was "pre-arranged".Footage of the incident posted on social media appears to shows fans ducking and running as the fireworks explode around Democratic and Labour (SDLP) assembly member Mark H Durkan was at the match and said the event was "ruined by violence and the fear of violence" for many genuine fans. He also said a flare landed on the pitch during the game which briefly stopped play. Durkan told BBC News NI that because of concerns about violent incidents which had happened elsewhere in the city before the match, stewards put in place a "safe exit" plan for supporters' buses. He said he had been speaking to police officers during the event to ask them about their plans "to minimise the risk of bother after the match". However, as the Foyle assembly member left the Brandywell he witnessed a crowd of about 60 fans who "ignored" the stadium workers' said these people "overran the stewards" in order to get out of the car park and they ran down Lone Moor Road "hell-bent on causing more trouble"."The vast majority of people I'm sure were here for the football, others had come to fight. It's really just disgusting," the assembly member added. Officers were in attendance and worked along with stadium staff to bring the disorder under control. Police said no arrests have been made at this Féin MLA Padraig Delargy condemned those behind the said it was "terrifying for local residents, including children, who witnessed this appalling violence"."It threatened the safety and well-being of local residents and stands in stark contrast to the fantastic work that is going on in the area through the Féile and the redevelopment of Meenan Square," Delargy game ended in a 1-1 News NI has contacted Derry City FC and Bohemians FC for comment.
