An Ulster Unionist Party delegation including East Belfast MLA Michael Copeland and Alderman Jim Rodgers has met with senior IFA officials to raise concerns arising from the decision not to play the National Anthem before Saturday’s Irish Cup Final at Windsor Park, between Glentoran and Cliftonville.
Speaking after the meeting Mr Copeland said:
“We had a positive meeting and took the opportunity to convey the concerns felt by the community in east Belfast and further afield and expressed our deep concern at the potential implications of the decision taken not to play the National Anthem.
I remain unconvinced that those members of the IFA’s Challenge Cup committee who took the decision fully realised the potential implications of their actions.
This is certainly something which local football could have done without.”
Alderman Rodgers said:
“We asked the IFA Chief Executive Patrick Nelson and President Jim Shaw to convey our concerns to the Challenge Cup committee.
The committee clearly took the wrong decision and as a result we are talking about the absence of the National Anthem prior to kick off instead of focusing on the game of football and an Irish Cup Final sponsored by Marie Curie.
I know the east Belfast community is looking forward to the match and hoping to see Glentoran bring the Irish Cup back to the Oval for the first time since 2004 and I would appeal to people attending the match not to let this foolish decision regarding the Anthem to heighten tensions and risk spoiling what is traditionally the biggest domestic football occasion of the year.”