Media Slammed Over Poland Game

Elements of the media have come under fire as Northern Ireland soccer fans begin their journey to an away match in Poland.

Gary McAllister, from the Amalgamation of Official Northern Ireland Supporters Clubs (AONISC), said this morning that some media coverage was irresponsible.

Speaking to the BBC while on route to the match venue in Chorzow, he said weekend news that sensationalised the risk of trouble was unwelcome.

"The Irish FA and PSNI have worked tirelessly on behalf of Northern Ireland's fans in the months running up to Saturday's game, and the Amalgamation and its members are extremely grateful for their efforts," he said.

However, he revealed that several fans had caved in to family pressures and pulled out from attending the away game after newspaper coverage last weekend.

One front-page story pictured knife-wielding, masked Polish home 'fans' who threatened 'blood-letting' when NI fans arrive for the important match.

Mr McAllister said the coverage was blowing the problems out of proportion and insisted that the normal arrangements to keep fans away from trouble would work.

Already, there's news of a segregated fan zone, which will be set up for Northern Ireland football fans going to Poland amid fears of trouble at the World Cup qualifying match.

Polish authorities have built the area in Katowice in a bid to ensure the event passes off without incident.

The move is on foot of trouble at the home fixture when 11 police officers were injured during rioting between rival supporters at the corresponding fixture at Windsor Park in Belfast in March.

This trouble was widely blamed on Polish troublemakers with little interest in the game, who instead wanted to cause as much mayhem and disruption as possible.

To avoid a repeat, the Irish Football Association (IFA) said fans that had decided to stay in Berlin and Krakow would be bussed to the match at Slaski Stadium in neighbouring Chorzow.

Gary McAllister's AONISC has also set up a special mobile phone network service to inform its members of places to avoid during their trip.

It is also known that IFA officials recently travelled to Poland with PSNI officers and representatives from the AONISC to seek safety assurances from the host nation.

Raymond Kennedy, President of the IFA, said he hoped the measures would result in a trouble-free occasion.

"These activities have been organised with the fans' safety of paramount importance and should ensure the safety of the Northern Ireland supporters," he said.

"We would urge all supporters to be aware of the fan zone and not to meet anywhere outside of the dedicated area.

"I think it is important to let the fans know that plans are in place and if they are followed will provide some form of comfort for our travelling support."

See: Policing Soccer Violence Cost Over £100K

(BMcC/KMcA)