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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Crusaders-Cliftonville cancellation: Three charged | Crusaders-Cliftonville cancellation: Three charged |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Two men in their 40s and a 21-year-old woman have been charged following Saturday's protest outside Seaview football ground in north Belfast. | Two men in their 40s and a 21-year-old woman have been charged following Saturday's protest outside Seaview football ground in north Belfast. |
| All three are accused of disorderly behaviour and assault on police, while one of the men is also charged with a provocative act. | All three are accused of disorderly behaviour and assault on police, while one of the men is also charged with a provocative act. |
| All three were released on police bail to appear in court on 13 March. | All three were released on police bail to appear in court on 13 March. |
| The Irish Premiership match between Crusaders and Cliftonville was called off due to the protest. | The Irish Premiership match between Crusaders and Cliftonville was called off due to the protest. |
| The two clubs are north Belfast rivals. Cliftonville have a mainly Catholic fanbase, while Crusaders have a mostly Protestant support. | |
| Seaview, Crusaders' ground, is on the mainly loyalist Shore Road. | |
| North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds called the cancellation of the match "a sad day" for football and for the area. | |
| Police said they were attacked with bottles and other missiles after they began moving protesters. | Police said they were attacked with bottles and other missiles after they began moving protesters. |
| Mr Dodds said it was "deeply disappointing". | Mr Dodds said it was "deeply disappointing". |
| It is understood there had been tensions about Cliftonville fans walking through the Skegoneill area on the way to the ground. | It is understood there had been tensions about Cliftonville fans walking through the Skegoneill area on the way to the ground. |
| "I want to pay credit to the two clubs Cliftonville and Crusaders, along with the residents in Skegoneill and others - community workers, political representatives - who had all worked very, very hard to try to get an agreement, had reached an agreement," Mr Dodds said. | "I want to pay credit to the two clubs Cliftonville and Crusaders, along with the residents in Skegoneill and others - community workers, political representatives - who had all worked very, very hard to try to get an agreement, had reached an agreement," Mr Dodds said. |
| "Unfortunately the events of yesterday meant the game didn't go ahead. | "Unfortunately the events of yesterday meant the game didn't go ahead. |
| "I think it's a sad day for football and a sad day for north Belfast. | "I think it's a sad day for football and a sad day for north Belfast. |
| "We will be working in the coming days in conjunction with everybody of goodwill to try to move things forward." | "We will be working in the coming days in conjunction with everybody of goodwill to try to move things forward." |
| Mr Dodds said reports of "heavy-handed" policing should be investigated. | Mr Dodds said reports of "heavy-handed" policing should be investigated. |
| Safety concerns | Safety concerns |
| A small 'white line' protest had been allowed to take place for about 40 minutes on Saturday afternoon. | A small 'white line' protest had been allowed to take place for about 40 minutes on Saturday afternoon. |
| Police moved it on to allow fans to get into the north Belfast ground. | Police moved it on to allow fans to get into the north Belfast ground. |
| The match was called off at 15:10 GMT because of safety concerns. | The match was called off at 15:10 GMT because of safety concerns. |
| Most Cliftonville supporters and many Crusaders fans had been unable to gain access to the stadium. | Most Cliftonville supporters and many Crusaders fans had been unable to gain access to the stadium. |
| A police spokesperson said: "Upon learning of the public disorder both clubs advised police that the game would not proceed. | A police spokesperson said: "Upon learning of the public disorder both clubs advised police that the game would not proceed. |
| "This is a regrettable outcome for the clubs, the many genuine fans who wanted to watch the match and indeed the wider north Belfast community." | "This is a regrettable outcome for the clubs, the many genuine fans who wanted to watch the match and indeed the wider north Belfast community." |
| 'Sad day' | 'Sad day' |
| Crusaders chairman Stephen Bell said it was "a sad day for football". | Crusaders chairman Stephen Bell said it was "a sad day for football". |
| "The football family need to hold together at this difficult time," added Bell. | "The football family need to hold together at this difficult time," added Bell. |
| Sports Minister Carál Ní Chuilín said the protest had nothing to do with football and players and fans had been left frustrated. | Sports Minister Carál Ní Chuilín said the protest had nothing to do with football and players and fans had been left frustrated. |
| "Now, instead of reflecting on a derby game featuring the top two teams in the league, we are looking back at a disheartening afternoon for everyone connected with the clubs," she said. | "Now, instead of reflecting on a derby game featuring the top two teams in the league, we are looking back at a disheartening afternoon for everyone connected with the clubs," she said. |
| "Crusaders and Cliftonville, while rivals on the pitch, have forged many links in recent years and I trust the events of today will not derail those efforts." | "Crusaders and Cliftonville, while rivals on the pitch, have forged many links in recent years and I trust the events of today will not derail those efforts." |
| Secretary of State Theresa Villiers said: "It is regrettable that an afternoon of sport was ruined by violent protests. | Secretary of State Theresa Villiers said: "It is regrettable that an afternoon of sport was ruined by violent protests. |
| "Such behaviour achieved nothing except upset and disruption for fans and local residents who were looking forward to the game." | "Such behaviour achieved nothing except upset and disruption for fans and local residents who were looking forward to the game." |