Northern Ireland

Co Tyrone football club reported to IFA over 'pro-IRA chant'

A video showing members of a Co Tyrone football club singing pro-IRA lyrics on a team bus has been reported to the Irish Football Association
A video showing members of a Co Tyrone football club singing pro-IRA lyrics on a team bus has been reported to the Irish Football Association A video showing members of a Co Tyrone football club singing pro-IRA lyrics on a team bus has been reported to the Irish Football Association

A VIDEO showing members of a Co Tyrone football club singing a pro-IRA chant on a team bus has been reported to the Irish Football Association.

The clip, which shows members of Coalisland Athletic FC following the team's win in the Irish Junior Cup final on Monday, has been shared widely online.

The Mid Ulster Football League said the IFA is investigating the video.

"The Mid Ulster League are very disappointed about it. We’re very saddened that this has come about," it said.

"We haven’t spoken to the club as of yet, but we have been getting messages to our social media about it. We have a planned committee meeting on Monday night and it will be discussed.

"We’re an amateur league who try to run the league to the highest standards we possibly can and this incident on Irish Junior Cup day yesterday is with the IFA’s disciplinary department for them to consider.

"The clubs in our local area ... are doing absolutely fantastic and this is something that all could certainly do without after a fine win by Coalisland."

The IFA said: "We are aware of the footage which has appeared on social media and the matter will be investigated accordingly."

It is understood that the footage was posted on the team’s Facebook page, but has since been removed.

Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O'Neill congratulated the club on their win.

"Fantastic win for Coalisland Athletic in the Junior Cup today," she tweeted on Monday.

DUP Mid Ulster candidate Keith Buchanan called on Ms O'Neill to condemn the singing.

"If we are to move Northern Ireland forward, there should be a united acceptance that such scenes are unacceptable," he said.

"I know other local representatives including Michelle O’Neill have offered their congratulations to the team. I hope they will now also join with a call for the club to apologise for this behaviour and be clear that such scenes will not be repeated."

Ulster Unionist Mid Ulster candidate Meta Graham said the singing was "utterly disgraceful".

"There is no excuse for this and nothing to be gained by playing this down," she said.

"If the club has any interest in how it is perceived and in community relations then it needs to acknowledge the offence caused, apologise and commit to ensuring this is never repeated in the future."

Both the club and Sinn Féin has been contacted for comment.