Sports Minister wants to pause astroturf funding for League of Ireland after crowd trouble at Drogheda game

23 Feb 2026, 10:10 by The Journal Team · The42

SPORTS MINISTER PATRICK O’Donovan has said he wants to pause “all” astroturf funding after flares thrown in the crowd of a League of Ireland game resulted in an injury to a 12-year-old supporter.

O’Donovan slammed scenes of “gougerism and thuggery” at Oriel Park between Drogheda and Dundalk on Friday, demanding that the league and the FAI get to grips with “hooliganism” among fans.

O’Donovan was in attendance with the new pitch and floodlights at Oriel Park funded by a €500,000 government grant when the pitch was scorched by flares thrown by some in the crowd.

Speaking this morning to David McCullagh on RTÉ Radio One, O’Donovan said people witnessed “taxpayers’ money literally going up in smoke” as he called on the crowd issues to be resolved by the sport’s authorities.

“Any and all astroturf funding going into League of Ireland clubs are to be stopped until I’m satisfied that the FAI and LOI will take this seriously,” the Limerick County deputy added.

Flares were used by fans ahead of Friday's game at Oriel Park. Nick Elliott / INPHONick Elliott / INPHO / INPHO

Flares thrown in the crowd resulted in an injury to a 12-year-old supporter, who sustained burns to his face, while damage was also caused to Dundalk’s new pitch.

O’Donovan said he accepted that the approach amounted to a “plague on all your houses” by punishing every club, but the Fine Gael TD insisted it was necessary.

He said this would protect the investment made by the State and innocent people who attend the games, and that he has contacted the Justice Minister over the ongoing crowd trouble issues.

O’Donovan said he didn’t want “shoulder shrugging” to his appeal as he added that the league needed to “root out these gougers” who bring flares into games.

Both Drogheda and Dundalk condemned the actions over the weekend of a “minority of individuals” following the crowd trouble during their match at Oriel Park.

The FAI also issued a statement on the incident:

“The League of Ireland strongly condemns the actions of a minority of supporters at last weekend’s SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division fixture between Dundalk FC and Drogheda United FC at Oriel Park.

“We are currently reviewing the Match Delegate report from the fixture and all available evidence. As part of this review, an investigation is underway into incidents that occurred at the fixture in collaboration with both Clubs, An Garda Síochána and all stakeholders. Further information will be supplied once this process has been completed.

“The League of Ireland welcomes recent Government investment in facility development and will continue to work closely with the Department of Sport and Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport Patrick O’Donovan on continued facility improvement in the League.”