Northern Ireland supporters are very bitter about us

darkman2

I was looking through articles on 2002 WC considering we are on the brink of qualification again. Many good positive articles bringing back some nice memories of that tournament and then came across this

World Cup 2002


I am a bigot. How do I know? Because a friend told me. Why does he say that? Because I refused to support the Republic in this summers World Cup. Does this friend go to Windsor? On many occasions yes. Even for somebody who attends our games it was easy to get caught up in the storm of bull**** and propaganda. I was saddened and confused by this viewpoint but I must confess not surprised.


And it was a confusing matter being a Northern Ireland supporter in this country during June. The consensual fiction that there was a team called "Ireland" representing the entire "nation" in Japan and Korea became so infectious that it was left to followers of Our Wee Country to question their own sanity. How long had we been asleep for? When did this 32 County polity come into existence? And if 45% of our fellow countrymen seemed to be under the impression that their national team played in Dublin who were these other morons clad in England jerseys who seemed convinced that they were from somewhere in the Home Counties despite accents to the contrary? Were we the David Ickes of the Province? Wibbling dementedly about the football equivalent of reptilian space aliens taking over the world.


Given the choice, however, between a ruling elite that have been crossbred with iguanas and listening to the beggars’ bull**** I must confess I’d go for the former every time. During the World Cup I heard a pundit (I can’t remember which one now) comment that Ronaldo was a good player "a bit in the mould of Robbie Keane", I witnessed Martin O’Neill comparing a draw against The Worst German Side Ever ™ (and they were - but I’ll come to that later) to beating the hosts on their own patch in 1982 and other incidents were to numerous to mention. But for someone who doesn’t want to see a
team which threatens the very existence of my own country’s side to do well (or a bigot as I’m otherwise known), what was the truth behind the Republic’s much hyped campaign?

For those black-hearted and evil misanthropes who wished the breakaway association nothing but ill luck for their forthcoming tournament, things began promisingly. Our purportedly "local" broadcasters set aside a full week of news time to cover the foul-mouthed outbursts and bad-tempered brawlings of one of Cork’s travelling community. Roy Keane’s departure from the Republic’s camp was ascribed partly to a disagreement with his manager and partly to "personal problems". In all fairness being a psychotic gipsy can be a serious problem for a person. Roy was also probably concerned about his family. I’m told it’s been a tough few years for itinerant driveway tarmaccers. Of course the most shocking thing about the Keane affair was the reaction of those fun-loving scamps, the beggar supporters. The vast majority came down on Keane’s side (as shown even more recently at Shelbourne they’re still 100% behind him), obviously believing that it was perfectly admissible to refer to your boss as an "English c**t" (can you imagine the uproar if the boot had been on the other foot, McCarthy would immediately have been sacked for racism). Not entirely surprising that they supported an abusive and violent scumbag when you consider we’re talking about a country where dishonesty and casual criminality are often viewed as endearing national quirks.





In any case, there was some call for optimism as the Cameroon game approached. In that spirit many of us forewent a Saturday morning lie-in and arose (in a lot of cases with heads pounding and arses biscuity) for the competition’s first breakfast kick-off. Kettles had barely been boiled before Cameroon took the lead - everything was going to plan. Cameroon had 3 points on a plate but declined to pocket them. The Republic played throughout the first half with ten men in defence. Instead of taking the game to them, Cameroon were content to withdraw as well and played out the half tapping it about at the back. There was little more ambition shown in the second period and inevitably Cameroon were punished for trying to hold the one goal lead (this was to happen to teams time and time again throughout the tournament). The Republic equalised through a freak Matt Holland strike and held on for a draw. What might have surprised some people though, was their reaction, celebrating as if a famous victory had been secured. Make no mistake about it, the Republic had done nothing in this game, their point was almost solely attributable to the Lions being a damn sight more "Domitable" and less ambitious than they should have been. Note also that an African team have never been past the Quarter Finals of the World Cup and also that the recent African Nations Cup was perhaps the worst spectacle of football seen outside the opening rounds of the County Antrim Shield.




Of course the most disgraceful piece of hubris and mendacity was the claim that the tinkers outplayed Spain. The Spanish (once again the beggars found themselves behind) had the ball in the net three more times and each effort was struck off, Mick’s multinationals equalising penalty came from a highly unconvincing foul on Niall Quinn. The Spanish then went on to play with ten



men throughout extra time. After one of the most incompetent displays of penalty kick taking caught on camera, the Spanish went through, to the relief of every fair-minded observer. The Republic and their fans were on the plane home with only their self-delusion and whatever they’d stolen from their Asian hosts to bring with them.


Back at home the Republican flags and Eircom tops still proliferated, Jerome Quinn and Donna Traynor still wittered inanely about a game of which their ignorance clearly knew no bounds and our home country became just the little bit less accommodating still, to those who choose to support their own national team.


We’ve almost grown to accept it now, the fact that our team isn’t welcome in it’s own city. It might be a symptom of our lack of success or it might be something more sinister than that, a kind of cultural ethnic cleansing that is endemic in other elements of our society as well as football. Sadly the only lasting solution to our peripheral status is probably success on the pitch.


Otherwise we’ll continue to be a minority obsession, with the knockers by force of numbers painting us as insignificant losers (the Unionist disbelievers) or a shower of bigots (the Nationalists). It’s getting no easier to be a Northern Ireland supporter.


The reaction to the Cameroon game was conservative though in comparison to the fuss after Germany. I am quite aware that Germany eventually reached the final (after a farcically easy run during which they should have been beaten by the USA) but they were not a good team. How could they be having been so heavily beaten by a chronically overrated England, not to mention held by the Welsh? Compare the current Germany side to the team that went on to win Euro 96, the team that we drew with twice, including the match in Germany when big Gerry put And so to our chums from Saudi Arabia. Of them not a great deal has to be said. If they spent less time and expended less energy funding the jihad and irrigating desert golf courses, they might just produce a better football team. This lot looked as if Bin Laden might have got a game if he wasn’t so keen to sublimate his World Cup ambitions into projects like trying to kill the American team. Of course the most farcical outfit in the finals obligingly bent over and parted their bum cheeks with some defending of the type with which we were becoming accustomed.

http://www.ourweecountry.co.uk/worldcup2002.html

What is their problem? I would have liked to see them qualify for something incidentally.

Peyton Manning

So what? The majority of Ireland fans get their kicks by watching England get knocked out by Portugal every year. I like to see Northern Ireland do well, and a lot of my friends in Northern Ireland like to see Ireland do well. Big deal.

mike65

Norn Iron are just like Millwall

darkman2

mike65 wrote: »

Norn Iron are just like Millwall

Don't you think that is a bit, how shall we say?, - "unfair" to Millwall:eek:

pablomakaveli

I hate Northern Ireland anyway so i could'nt give a **** what they think about us.

Rondolfus

To hell with the Northern Irish football team. Windsor park is just a cauldron of anti-Irish hate. It wasn't so long ago that their captain was forced into early retirement as a reuslt of death threats because he signed for Celtic.


Let people like that hate us. If they liked us we'd know we were doing something wrong!

Go on Ireland!!

RasTa

Wasn't this discussed already?

jamsieboy86

The bit about Roy Keane is funny.

ADTR

Thanks Slovakia!

Broxi_Bear_Eire

RasTa wrote: »

Wasn't this discussed already?

Yes it was but people like to moan :rolleyes:

CHD

Let them moan, they are nothing.

noodler

Some the bile in this thread is almost as bad as the article itself.

Can such an article really speak for the 2 million or so people in NI?

Fr Tod Umptious

noodler wrote: »

Can such an article really speak for the 2 million or so people in NI?

Probably not, but neither can the hatred you hear displayed for England or the booing of 'alleged' Rangers players at Landsdowne Rd speak for Republic of Ireland residents

OP - People in NI are entitled to dislike the Republic, like I am entitled to dislike parsnips, get over it.

loveissucide

You know,football attracts idiots and the best we can do is ignore this gibberish and get on with our lives.I'm personally very pleased for Northern Ireland and their recent return to being half-decent,we shouldn't let the Rangers/Celtic trolls ruin football for the million Northern Irishmen who actually like football and arn't looking for a fight.

drkpower

CHD wrote: »

Let them moan, they are nothing.

Is this not just the same attitude in reverse?

DaveH

Personally I dont like the North of Ireland, so seeing the above article gives just gives me more of a reason to hate them.

As for the North hating us, I always remember in 1992 - We drew with Denmark away in the wc quals. Denmark had just won euro 92.
That night on BBC, the presenter goes - The result of the night has to go to the Republic who drew with Denmark.
Gerry Armstrong - I think Scotland got a better result agaisnt Finland!!

Well thats Rivarly!!

SlickRic

i'm good friends with plenty of people from the North, all of whom only wish Ireland well.

just like i'm sure people know those who want us to lose.

people have the right to support who they want, and jeer who they want.

it's only when it turns into more than jeering & banter that you draw the line.

CHD

drkpower wrote: »

Is this not just the same attitude in reverse?

Nope, we are something.

noodler

CHD wrote: »

Nope, we are something.

I don't think you understood what he said...

CHD

noodler wrote: »

I don't think you understood what he said...

Probably not, just hit quick reply and typed something.

drkpower

CHD wrote: »

Nope, we are something.

Hmm..
Thats precisely what I'm talking about.

Nobody likes a bigoted or a superior attitude specially considering that there hasnt been a huge amount between ours and Norn Iron's performances in the last few qualifying campaigns.

briany

I posted a thread about this thread some time ago and it's true there does seem to be an element amongst their fanbase who seem to absolutely hate the ROI team. Perhaps it's partly out of jealousy but I think it's mostly out of some bigoted ideals that this minority has and from looking through the forums on the our wee country website (Which I suggest anyone interested look at right now if you wanna read some anti ROI spiel) a feeling of being overshadowed by their more successful neighbouring team.

Peyton Manning

darkman2 wrote: »

Don't you think that is a bit, how shall we say?, - "unfair" to Millwall:eek:

pablomakaveli wrote: »

I hate Northern Ireland anyway so i could'nt give a **** what they think about us.

Rondolfus wrote: »

To hell with the Northern Irish football team.

ADTR wrote: »

Thanks Slovakia!

CHD wrote: »

Let them moan, they are nothing.

DaveH wrote: »

Personally I dont like the North of Ireland, so seeing the above article gives just gives me more of a reason to hate them.

Yeah Jesus, what small minded bastards they are up North.

:rolleyes:

briany

There is a small minority in both sets of fans that hate the other unapologetically it seems to me, its probably why the teams haven't played each other for ten years and may not play each other for another ten if the Celtic Cup thingy gets scrapped.

5starpool

That article was funny, thanks.

CiaranC

Set of football fans hate other team shocker. News at 11.

artanevilla

I hate the IFA even more than the FAI. I apologize for any dyslexics reading this.

cournioni

Archimedes wrote: »

Yeah Jesus, what small minded bastards they are up North.

:rolleyes:

I don't think you know just how much they hate us up there. Certainly more so than our folk hate the north that is for sure. And I wouldn't be talking about small minorities either. It seems to be the majority of NI supporters, and then a small minority are slightly more openminded about the matter.

Having said that, things are far better now than 1993 when we played them up there. My dad was at that game where Alan McLoughlin got us to the world cup and he said that the level of hatred shown towards our boys was astonishing. He was in the NI end with a few of his friends as I don't think The republic had an allocation of tickets for the game because of the fear of violence. Needless to say he had to keep very quiet for THAT goal.

Things are better, but they're still bad when you walk past the NI supporters pub/club and you're warned to keep your distance from it...

orourkeda

Boooooooooooring

Peyton Manning

PORNAPSTER wrote: »

I don't think you know just how much they hate us up there. Certainly more so than our folk hate the north that is for sure. And I wouldn't be talking about small minorities either. It seems to be the majority of NI supporters, and then a small minority are slightly more openminded about the matter.

Having said that, things are far better now than 1993 when we played them up there. My dad was at that game where Alan McLoughlin got us to the world cup and he said that the level of hatred shown towards our boys was astonishing. He was in the NI end with a few of his friends as I don't think The republic had an allocation of tickets for the game because of the fear of violence. Needless to say he had to keep very quiet for THAT goal.

Things are better, but they're still bad when you walk past the NI supporters pub/club and you're warned to keep your distance from it...

I live in Belfast, about a stones throw from Windsor Road. Ive been to 3 Northern Ireland internationals in the last 2 years and Ive never had any problems whatsoever. Like any other set of fans, its the minority that hate Ireland. Another minority of them hate England just as much. I think you'll find most of them couldn't give a toss about a team they haven't played in years and probably wont play again for years to come. And whoever warned whoever about keeping their distance from the NI supporters club is another minority, because I walk past the front door of it 4/5 days a week, many times wearing a Kilkenny jersey or an Ireland/FAI tracksuit top and havent had a word said to me.

Sure, there are a fair share of narrow minded bigots up there, but they are part of the package of any set of supporters. This thread has shown that we have our own. Its when people see the actions of this minority and decide to label the majority as a whole because of it that irritates the hell out of me.

AndyP

In fairness its like saying you are surprised to read somewhere that a Rangers fan has a dislike for Celtic, Liverpool/Everton, Utd/City etc.

I aint going to lose sleep over it!

briany

There's a sort of mirror image of this debate going on on the our wee country forums right now (to be exact about BBC NI's coverage of the Italy game) . Here's a couple of quotes from either side of the debate:

I'd love to be smug and laugh at the beggars cocking that up......but I cant help but be jealous of them going to the playoffs while we will probably get tanked on wednesday and end up 5th. Ah well. I hope they embarrass themselves and dont make it to the world cup (but I fear they will and then our local tv channels will really have a field day ranting about the Bogland)

on the other side:

It's obvious that political persuasion was the stimulation for this thread and for your outrage that anything to do with the Republic Of Ireland is mentioned in the N.Irish media; as if we have absolutely no connection to the south whatsoever and nobody in N.Ireland is interested. Total nonsense.

As Jimmcfc implied, whether you like it or not, there is huge interest in the fortunes of the ROI both in N.Ireland and across the water, where the match was on BBC Radio 5 Live. The fact that a sizeable proportion of N.Ireland have nationalist sympathies and support the ROI football team is totally relevant to the coverage this match has received. Not giving coverage to it would pander to the type of acute small-mindedness/paranoia prevalent on this thread.

MementoMori

I think that a large part of the whole thing has to do with the whole nationalist unionist sectarianism.

I remember talking to a massive Derry City fan at work who was saying he would never set foot in Windsor Park. He said that nationalists in the north would tend to support ROI while the NI team would mainly draw it's support from the Unionist community.

I still don't understand why the IFA havent changed their name.
It does mean that the FAI are the splitters so would equate to the People's Front of Judea ( I think)

Het-Field

darkman2 wrote: »

I was looking through articles on 2002 WC considering we are on the brink of qualification again. Many good positive articles bringing back some nice memories of that tournament and then came across this




What is their problem? I would have liked to see them qualify for something incidentally.

I wouldnt worry about this piece, which is based on a biggoted and jealous view. Its written by some scummer, who had no idea what went on. He even mistook the games of Cameroon and Germany. Germany had it on a plate. IRRC Cameroon were lucky to move out of that game with a point. Equally, Duffer terrorised Spain in that second half.

Thus, that piece is irrelevant, and doesnt reflect the usual fair minded Norn Iron fan.

However, a buddie of mine from the north used his facebook status to congratulate Italy last night !

That article is a good few years old and not everyone up the north shares views that strong !

As someone has already said, the NI team draws most of it's fans from the Unionist community and Nationalists support the republic.

People may remember the abuse Lennon used to get at Windsor park from his own fans, it was sickening. He also recieved a death threat which I think led to his international retirement, (someone may correct me on this) for doing the unforgiveable....joining Celtic !!

stovelid

I can't imagine why they could be so bitter. It's sad. It would be like us and our media still gloating about matches against the English 21 years ag.....oh.

briany

stovelid wrote: »

I can't imagine why they could be so bitter. It's sad. It would be like us and our media still gloating about matches against the English 21 years ag.....oh.

Didn't that incident feature in a Christy Moore song? You're right, there's more than a little tacit dislike for the English team this way as we all know and it's a shame. Somebody earlier asked of NI's supporters active dislike of the ROI team by saying "What's their problem?", and I think that an England fan would wonder the same thing of some of the ROI supporters. Somebody mentioned in a previous thread that some of their English friends were actually quite hurt when they found out about that dislike and I wouldn't really blame them.

leninbenjamin

that article is ancient and has been discussed many many times on these boards already.

as to the bitterness, well it's not exactly front page news that there's a strong sectarian element of NI fans. Where the hell has the OP been for the past century or so?

m@cc@

This has been done already. More to the point, is that really the concern of Republic supporters at this time?

rarnes1 wrote: »

He also recieved a death threat which I think led to his international retirement, (someone may correct me on this) for doing the unforgiveable....joining Celtic !!

Not to condone the behaviour, but the reason for it was that Lennon said he wanted to play for a United Ireland team (in combination with playing for Celtic).

briany

m@cc@ wrote: »

This has been done already. More to the point, is that really the concern of Republic supporters at this time?

Not unless they try to kidnap one of our top players in order to sabotage our qualification attempt but I really can't see THAT happening.

cournioni

Archimedes wrote: »

I live in Belfast, about a stones throw from Windsor Road. Ive been to 3 Northern Ireland internationals in the last 2 years and Ive never had any problems whatsoever. Like any other set of fans, its the minority that hate Ireland. Another minority of them hate England just as much. I think you'll find most of them couldn't give a toss about a team they haven't played in years and probably wont play again for years to come. And whoever warned whoever about keeping their distance from the NI supporters club is another minority, because I walk past the front door of it 4/5 days a week, many times wearing a Kilkenny jersey or an Ireland/FAI tracksuit top and havent had a word said to me.

Sure, there are a fair share of narrow minded bigots up there, but they are part of the package of any set of supporters. This thread has shown that we have our own. Its when people see the actions of this minority and decide to label the majority as a whole because of it that irritates the hell out of me.

Funny, I lived just off Botanic ave for a few months and I can safely say the opposite from my experience. I've never been threatened or anything but I've had a few very brief discussions with people that said they disliked Ireland to say the very least. Maybe it's just because I'm from a border county they felt the need to express their views.

Having said that though I've met a handful were spot on and genuinely decent football fans.