Minister for Sport Patrick O’Donovan has stopped all funding for League of Ireland astro pitches after fans threw flares on to the pitch during last Friday’s Louth derby between Dundalk and Drogheda United at Oriel Park. O’Donovan told RTÉ Radio on Monday morning that people at the clubs must know who was involved in the disturbances. O’Donovan said he had asked the League of Ireland and the FAI for “concrete proposals to stamp out hooliganism once and for all”. Photograph: Nick Elliott/Inpho“Now I don’t think that’s funny. The Minister also reiterated his view that the Republic of Ireland v Israel soccer match should go ahead in the autumn.

Source: The Irish Times February 23, 2026 15:20 UTC