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Herald lies about Irish football neo-nazi links

category national | arts and media | news report author Thursday April 22, 2004 12:29author by Hoops man

Ultras reject allegations

The Evening Herald have published an article claiming that supporters from Shamrock Rovers are 'forging links' with neo-nazis in Europe.

On Tuesday, the Evening Herald published an article on their front page under the headline 'Irish Soccer Hooligans Plan Riots on the Net - Rovers thugs forge links with neo-nazis'.

The article contains a number of inaccuracies, exaggerations and outright lies about a supporters group known as the Shamrock Rovers Ultras. It alleged that the Ultras plan riots on the internet and have forged links with neo-nazis in Europe.
The Ultras were founded to improve atmosphere at Eircom league football matches. Such has been the success of the group that the FAI invited the Ultras to Ireland matches in order to improve atmosphere there. The Ultras are a non-violent group and are 100% anti-racist. While the allegation that the Ultras plan violence is serious, the slur that they are nazis is completely unfounded and extremely damaging.
The paper then alleged that violence at Eircom league games is "spiralling out of control" - another ridiculous statement with absolutely no foundation.

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/64498

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