Latest news with #SligoRovers
Irish Independent
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Dundalk ‘fully cooperating with all the relevant authorities' and vow zero tolerance after allegation of racial remark
Dundalk have vowed to co-operate with Gardai in relation to an allegation of a racially-motivated remark at Friday's FAI Cup tie at home to Sligo Rovers.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Everton forward faces defining summer as David Moyes weighs up what to do
A difficult day looked set to end in more frustration as Everton trailed Sligo Rovers 3-1. The game was a friendly, the first of pre-season and essentially a fitness test built around the return of Seamus Coleman to the club where he rose to the Blues' attention. But defeat still would have disappointed the hundreds that had crossed Ireland to follow Sean Dyche's side. It looked like that would be the outcome until the intervention of Youssef Chermiti. The young forward bagged two late goals to salvage a draw hours after his club had been hit with news The Friedkin Group had pulled out of their first takeover bid. READ MORE: Everton and Roma name more legends for historic match at Hill Dickinson Stadium READ MORE: Four Everton youngsters set for defining summer as club weighs up next options It was a big moment for Chermiti, even if the match meant little in terms of preparations for the upcoming season. The forward had endured a tough first season following his surprise arrival from Sporting Lisbon the previous summer. With Everton operating on a budget, splashing just over £10m on a teenage prospect felt a luxury the club may not have been able to afford at the start of the 2023/24 season. Over that campaign he ended up caught in a tough spot. Dyche's squad was too small to allow him to leave on loan, with offers for his services made that January. But Chermiti was considered too raw for the Blues boss to use in the cut and thrust of what became another relegation fight after the club was hit with two points deductions for spending breaches. Dyche admitted it was a tough situation to wrestle. Everton supporters did get glimpses of him and, after the pressure eased following the home wins over Nottingham Forest and Liverpool, the Portugal youth international started the home win over Brentford. He looked good in flashes and so, when his brace turned the game around at Sligo there was a sense he was starting pre-season with the momentum he had finished the past campaign with. That feeling survived the friendly defeat at Salford City that followed. Chermiti came off the bench in that match and his nifty footwork won the free-kick from which James Garner levelled before a much-changed Blues fell away late in the game. It therefore came as a jolt of disappointment when Dyche announced at Coventry City days later that his summer was over. A foot injury suffered in training between the friendlies required surgery and that was Chermiti done until November. And then, as he finally neared a return, a thigh strain ruled him out for several more months. The timing of the thigh setback was particularly cruel. In January, Armando Broja and Dominic Calvert-Lewin both suffered serious injuries. Beto was far from established and so, had Chermiti been available, there was a genuine opportunity to make an impression given how threadbare the squad was. It was March before he made it on the pitch in front of David Moyes. It took just 11 minutes to make an impact as he played a role in Jake O'Brien's late equaliser against West Ham United. After that cameo, he said: 'I just want to keep getting involved – keep getting minutes in the bank and try to score my first goal... hopefully at Goodison Park. That's my goal. "I feel the love from the supporters. Every time I play here, I feel that energy and that love from the fans. It's a great feeling." A goal at Goodison did not come - indeed, he is yet to score a senior goal for the club, though circumstances have been unkind to him. As a result, he approaches his third season with Everton at a crossroads. The departure of Dominic Calvert-Lewin has removed one barrier to the first team. But Beto's star rose after he took advantage of his period as the only fit forward at the club while the decision to invest £27.5m into 22-year-old forward Thierno Barry suggests Chermiti will not be guaranteed to be second choice. That means he faces the prospect of being the third choice forward in a system that will likely rely on just one. A loan deal could be his best route to the development minutes the 21-year-old desperately needs. He did start the friendly at Acrrington Stanley on Tuesday night but his performance could be judged both ways. He forced two good saves from Accrington man of the match, goalkeeper Ollie Wright, the best an acrobatic tip over the bar after a diving Chermiti met a Tim Iroegbunam cross. Yet it was another opportunity in which he did not hit the back of the net. More are likely to follow with Everton set to travel to Blackburn Rovers and then the USA. He will get time to make his case and, even if he was to leave on loan, there is no suggestion he does not have a future at the club - he is contracted until 2027. The question is whether Moyes will view him as too important to a small squad to allow to leave for the first team minutes he is ready for.
Irish Examiner
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Dundalk FC 'fully cooperating with authorities' following alleged racist remark at Sligo Rovers player
Dundalk FC have issued a statement confirming that they are "fully cooperating with all the relevant authorities" after it was alleged that a racist remark was made towards a Sligo Rovers player on Friday night. Two goals inside four second half minutes from James McManus and Jake Doyle-Hayes would ensure Sligo booked their place in the next round of the FAI Cup at the expense of the Lilywites at Oriel Park. But it has been reported that an announcement was made over the PA system during the interval that the referee has reported an alleged racist incident which took place during the first-half. And in a statement released on Saturday morning, Dundalk confirmed they are looking into the incident as they take a "zero-tolerance approach to tackling hatred within the game." The club statement reads: "Dundalk FC is extremely disappointed to be made aware of an allegation of incitement to hatred towards a Sligo Rovers player during our Sports Direct Mens FAI Cup match at Oriel Park on Friday July 18th. Read More Quickfire double sees Sligo Rovers past Dundalk "Dundalk FC is a community based football club and we pride ourselves on being an open and inclusive club and are proud to welcome all to Oriel Park. "The club takes all reports of discrimination seriously and we are fully cooperating with all the relevant authorities on this matter. "We stand with the League of Ireland and our supporters in taking a zero-tolerance approach to tackling hatred within the game. "Dundalk FC would encourage anyone who witnesses any such behaviour to report in confidence to our Office at 042 9335894 or via email to office@
The 42
15 hours ago
- Sport
- The 42
Dundalk ‘cooperating with authorities' following alleged racism towards Sligo Rovers player
DUNDALK FC HAS said it is 'fully cooperating with all relevant authorities' following an allegation of racism towards a Sligo Rovers player during a game last night. Dundalk faced Sligo Rovers in a home fixture at Oriel Park in the Sports Direct Men's FAI Cup last night. In a statement today, Dundalk FC said it was 'extremely disappointed to be made aware of an allegation of racism towards a Sligo Rovers player' during last night's game. 'Dundalk FC is a community based football club and we pride ourselves on being an open and inclusive club and are proud to welcome all to Oriel Park,' said the club in a statement. Advertisement It added: 'The club takes all reports of discrimination seriously and we are fully cooperating with all the relevant authorities on this matter. 'We stand with the League of Ireland and our supporters in taking a zero-tolerance approach to tackling racism within the game.' The club encouraged anyone who witnesses any such alleged behaviour to report it 'in confidence' by calling 042 9335894 or via email to office@ In a statement to The Journal, a Sligo Rovers spokesperson said: 'As a community club of mixed races, ethnicities and cultures we will challenge and call out racism of any kind.' The spokesperson added that the club will not comment further at this stage and intends to 'leave this to the authorities to handle'. The spokesperson also remarked that this alleged incident 'is not a reflection on the overwhelming majority of Dundalk fans' and described it as an 'isolated incident from a small minority'. 'Racism and hate has no part to play in football,' added the Sligo Rovers spokesperson. The FAI has been approached for comment. Meanwhile, Dundalk were defeated 2-0 by Sligo Rovers in last night's second round FAI Cup fixture, the second year in a row the Louth club has exited the competition in the second round. Written by Diarmuid Pepper and posted on
The Journal
16 hours ago
- Sport
- The Journal
Dundalk FC ‘cooperating with authorities' into alleged racism towards Sligo Rovers player
DUNDALK FC HAS said it is 'fully cooperating with all relevant authorities' following an allegation of racism towards a Sligo Rovers player during a game last night. Dundalk faced Sligo Rovers in a home fixture at Oriel Park in the Sports Direct Men's FAI Cup last night. In a statement today, Dundalk FC said it was 'extremely disappointed to be made aware of an allegation of racism towards a Sligo Rovers player' during last night's game. 'Dundalk FC is a community based football club and we pride ourselves on being an open and inclusive club and are proud to welcome all to Oriel Park,' said the club in a statement. It added: 'The club takes all reports of discrimination seriously and we are fully cooperating with all the relevant authorities on this matter. 'We stand with the League of Ireland and our supporters in taking a zero-tolerance approach to tackling racism within the game.' Advertisement The club encouraged anyone who witnesses any such alleged behaviour to report it 'in confidence' by calling 042 9335894 or via email to office@ In a statement to The Journal , a Sligo Rovers spokesperson said: 'As a community club of mixed races, ethnicities and cultures we will challenge and call out racism of any kind.' The spokesperson added that the club will not comment further at this stage and intends to 'leave this to the authorities to handle'. The spokesperson also remarked that this alleged incident 'is not a reflection on the overwhelming majority of Dundalk fans' and described it as an 'isolated incident from a small minority'. 'Racism and hate has no part to play in football,' added the Sligo Rovers spokesperson. The FAI has been approached for comment. Meanwhile, Dundalk were defeated 2-0 by Sligo Rovers in last night's second round FAI Cup fixture, the second year in a row the Louth club has exited the competition in the second round. 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
