It was with great regret that the display the group had prepared and set-up in the Aviva Stadium in advance of Sunday’s FAI Cup Final was refused permission at the final moment by the FAI security and the Aviva Stadium management. We had received enormous support and donations from the St Pats fan base and had matched this with a fitting spectacle for the occasion, which was by far the largest we have ever produced. The display production cost over €5000 and was prepared over the last month since the Semi-Final victory by group members working tirelessly in the evenings and on weekends.

Having been instructed to leave the ground at 12:30 on Sunday afternoon, our group had made its way to Slattery’s pub, but immediately received a phone call to return to the stadium as the materials were deemed ‘unsafe’. 2 members of our group gained access to the stadium while the remainder waited in the housing estate off Bath Avenue, as they were refused re-entry until 1:30pm. During this period, the version of events given to our 2 members inside the stadium changed wildly, almost by the minute, with several different variations and combinations of issues, too varied and confusing to list here. Various elements of the display were allowed, only to be disallowed moments later. This cyclical and confusing form of communication continued until 1:30pm when the group finally re-entered the stadium through the turnstiles.

At this point the group was told that the gold flags, polycotton background and polycotton centrepiece (on netting) were not permitted. The gold flags had already been removed and put into the bins in the stadium by Aviva Stadium staff. The group was left with just red and white flags in a non-sensical pattern. With fans arriving at the stadium the group was left with no choice but to remove the remaining red and white flags and to store them at the service yard area of the stadium for safe storage. These flags were also binned by stadium staff during the match. After the game, our group members waited for over an hour to get our van close to the stadium; and did the best they could to salvage some of the flags from the bins in a laneway.

Having changed the extent of their refusal several times throughout the pre-game period, the final reason provided was that all the materials (except the red/white flags) were not fireproof, and no certificates or list of materials used had been provided. However, the group, which had been in full contact via our SLO and the club had never been asked for a list of materials or fire certificate in the month preceding the final. Furthermore, we had never been asked for these particulars for the 2012, 2014 and 2021 finals; in which polycotton material with acrylic paint had been used. These materials are also used in almost all our displays and all displays carried out by other groups at Cup Finals since the Aviva Stadium has been in use. All the materials were inspected by FAI Security and Aviva Stadium management upon our arrival at 11am and were permitted entry; this check was carried out during a full search of our van and pat down of group members entering the stadium. Furthermore, these materials are used every week in LOI stadiums, and the plastic and metallic flags are commonplace in stadiums throughout Europe.

Ultras and Tifo groups have been active at domestic games for over 20 years with large scale displays seen at not only every final involving Pats but also every other team that has played in Cup Finals or European fixtures at the Aviva Stadium. The lack of consideration in the weeks before the final by the FAI security and Aviva Stadium management to consider the displays as part of the Cup Final day is a glaring admission of their own disregard, and thinly veiled contempt, for the problem-child that is the domestic game and those that support it. Sunday’s events are not just an issue for Pats fans but for every organised support group in Ireland.

We ask that the FAI and Aviva Stadium management company consider a donation to a Dublin 8 charity, for an amount they deem appropriate of between €2000 (flags) and €5000 (total display); to offset the disrespect they have shown to the goodwill of the St Pats fans who donated money towards the common goal of providing a unique atmosphere at a Cup Final attended by a record-breaking crowd.

We express solidarity with the Notorious Boo Boys of Bohemians with whom we met and discussed a unified approach at the side of the pitch as these events unfolded. The NBB too had their display pulled for similar reasons. While ordinarily we are rivals; in the face of such disregard, organised support groups and LOI fans in general must provide a united front against the incompetent and contemptuous administrators of Irish football. Both groups intend on pursuing answers and clarity from the FAI and Aviva Stadium management via our respective clubs and are committed to a united front.

We would like to offer our sincere thanks to the messages of support we have received from St Pats fans and the wider domestic football community.

Shed End Invincibles.