Anybody know anything about this? Needless to say this has been pounced on by a certain other forum where there are three seperate threads on it already.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/6925977.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/6925977.stm)
Better than that there's a club player in Tyrone Gallagher I think who also plays for Dungannon Swifts has also quit Football becasue of abuse he receives from referees within the County... Not Good but then I wouldn't expect anything else from that Tyrone shower anyway!
Not good and anyone dishing out this sort of sh*t needs to catch themselves on. It would do no harm if their team mates had a word.
Which club does he play for??
Quote from: A Quinn Martin Production on August 01, 2007, 02:22:19 PM
Which club does he play for??
Lisnaskea Emmets, there's a thread on the Non GAA board about it too.
Yeah, I've seen that now FOSB
GAA player quitting over 'abuse'
A County Fermanagh GAA player has said he is leaving the sport after what he called persistent sectarian abuse.
Darren Graham, 25, has represented the county in Gaelic football and hurling. He was a baby when his father, who was in the UDR, was killed by the IRA.
Mr Graham, a Protestant, said that, while his team-mates were not involved, the GAA must look at the problem.
A spokesperson for the Fermanagh county board said harassment would not be tolerated, but it must be reported.
Mr Graham, who played for Lisnaskea Emmetts, said: "I couldn't take any more. Something has to be done to get it out of the sport."
The GAA spokesperson said: "Abuse of any players, officials or referees is not acceptable and all official reports of it will be dealt with seriously."
From BBC Sport
A lot of sick f><kers in this country!
I am disgusted by this. Any sport loving person should comdem it without qualification.
In my playing days I had the pleasure of playing with prostestant team mates and opponants, never came accross such abuse.
In fact I found that any abuse these guys got came from thier co-religionists especially when they began to get noticed for being good at the game. A young Loughinisland lad, Jennings I think his name was, being a notable example. He was forced out of the game by his co-religionists when he got selected for the Down minor squad.
I feel great shame if gaelic players and supproters cannot rise above this sectarianism. The GAA was never meant to be a sectarian organisation. Those who think it is are way off-beam and should check their history and roots.
As for the Tyrone guy with the referee problems, I am not convinced his case is as strong as the Lisnaskea lad. I would like to hear the referees' side of the story before formong an opinion on that one!
This topic is running over on the other board and is already up to six pages - do we need another thread here?
http://gaaboard.com/board/index.php?topic=4043.0
Quote from: Star Spangler on August 01, 2007, 11:14:47 PM
This topic is running over on the other board and is already up to six pages - do we need another thread here?
http://gaaboard.com/board/index.php?topic=4043.0
I think we absolutely do need a thread here. This is a GAA issue. Personally I never look at the non GAA board anymore and it seems the relative silence on this issue here speaks volumes.
I think you have a point FGM. There's certainly not silence on the issue -it's just that the noise is in the wrong place. Maybe Admin should transfer the thread over here.
Quoteit seems the relative silence on this issue here speaks volumes.
No, I don't agree.
The other thread should be moved here though as it is a GAA issue.
Quotethe relative silence on this issue here speaks volumes.
That's probably because this is the third thread on the subject!
I don't really buy this story there are a lot of decent Fermanagh people - of course there are aresholes everywhere but that's life !
If this man is being abused, he should rise above it and I'm sure his teammates will support him all the way.
Today's (Monday 6 August) London Times has a whole page spread on this issue. (page 15). Sorry I do not know how to post the article. Perhaps someone can.
Protestant quits Gaelic football accusing fellow players of bigotry
For much of his life sport has been Darren Graham's only religion, but in recent years his biggest challenge on the pitch has been religious bigotry.
Last week, the 25-year-old joiner decided that he could no longer take the constant sectarian abuse he received as a Protestant Gaelic football player and walked off during a game for his club, Lisnaskea Emmets.
Graham is the only non-Roman Catholic player of Gaelic games in Fermanagh, and his departure is a blow to the efforts by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) to recruit Protestants.
His story is a salutary reminder of just how far Northern Ireland still has to travel before its wounds heal.
Graham's mother is Catholic. His father, Cecil, a member of the Ulster Defence Regiment, was murdered by the Provisional IRA in 1981 as he visited his wife, who was staying with her parents in a Republican area because Darren was premature and needed constant attention. Two of Graham's uncles were also killed by the Provisional IRA.
The Province has a deeply ingrained sporting code in which Catholics play Gaelic football and hurling and Protestants play rugby and hockey. Catholics support Glasgow Celtic while Protestants cheer for Rangers.
Graham began playing Gaelic Games at 12, but it was only when he began to show a real talent that the sectarian abuse began. He said: "I've been getting it from opponents and supporters. It was not really bad until I got to senior level, when I was 18. It's definitely because I'm a Protestant. I've been told Protestants shouldn't be allowed in the GAA."
The final straw came Sunday last week. He said: "I told my club I was quitting and I'm not going back until something is done about it."He said that he could name up to a dozen players who had subjected him to verbal hatred and referees who failed to protect him from taunts.
It was not until 2001 that the GAA lifted its ban on members of Northern Ireland's security forces joining. The rule banning anyone who played "foreign" games such as rugby or football was also dropped. The last great taboo was broken earlier this year when England played Ireland in the Six Nations Rugby Championship at Croke Park in Dublin, the home of Gaelic games.
Graham said: "The GAA is asking for Protestants to get more into the sport. But what's the point if they are going to listen to stuff like that? Unless there's a formal apology by the County, I won't be back."
Deirdre Donnelly, a spokeswoman for Fermanagh County Board, said: "If Darren has an issue he should go through his club. We are awaiting a referee's report from the game. Abuse of any description is unacceptable and will not be tolerated."
Nickey Brennan, president of the GAA, said: "I'd be more than happy to meet the young man and invite him to Croke Park to one of the big games and let him see that we want all religions to be part of the GAA."
Graham said that the offer was a positive move, but only if the real problem was dealt with.
London Times (Mon 6 August 2007)
Quote from: wrecked_em on August 06, 2007, 10:40:35 AM
there is more to this story than meets the eye
Enlighten us
This is probably already been said else where but he's coming back to play again after he got an apology from the county board and there will be a meeting to discuss sectarianism and ways of dealing with it. Apparently there will be "severe penalties" for any clubs or players involved in sectarian incidents.
Sounds like there is more to this story than has already been told !!!
I wonder will he be disciplined when/if he does come back, for striking another player after the final whistle?