Derry City Receives Suspended Partial Closure and Fine Following Stadium Incidents
Derry City has been handed a suspended partial closure of the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium by the Uefa Appeals Body.
This decision comes after trouble flared between rival supporters both before and during the Candystripes’ Europa League match against CSKA Sofia on Thursday, July 16, which necessitated police presence at the stadium.
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Tiernan Lynch’s team lost the match 2-1, resulting in their exit from the competition. The game was interrupted for 14 minutes as fans, including young children, rushed onto the pitch to avoid confrontations in the stands.
The partial closure of the stadium will remain suspended for a probationary period of two years.
Derry City has also been fined €20,000 (£17,000) due to the incidents. On the other hand, CSKA Sofia has been barred from bringing away supporters to their next European match, with a further one-game sanction being suspended for two years.
The Bulgarian club faces fines amounting to €55,000 (£47,000) and has been directed to settle with Derry City regarding damage to the stadium.
Fans including young children were forced on to the pitch to avoid trouble in the stands [Getty Images]
A statement from Derry City indicated that the club had raised concerns with Uefa regarding “the aggressive and intimidatory behaviour” of the visiting supporters but acknowledged their own accountability for the incidents.
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“Derry City FC is committed to taking all necessary steps to ensure that home matches are played in an environment that is safe for players and supporters alike,” the club stated.
“An investigation is underway to identify those supporters of Derry City FC who were involved in these incidents and who ultimately caused the club to incur this fine. Once identified, the club will take appropriate steps to sanction these supporters, including the possibility of a lifetime ban from the McBride Stadium.”
“Separately, CSKA Sofia has apologized to Derry City FC for the damage caused to the Ryan McBride Stadium by its supporters and has agreed to cover the cost of repairing this damage, working closely with Derry City FC on this issue.”
Derry will return to European action on Thursday night (19:45 BST), traveling to face Croatian side HNK Rijeka in the second qualifying round of the Conference League.