Derry City to ban supporters over Brandywell pitch incursion

Derry City Football Club is to ban a number of supporters from its home ground following a pitch incursion during last week's game against Sligo Rovers.

The club said it is now adopting a zero tolerance policy at the Ryan McBride Brandywell stadium that will see anyone enter the playing area handed a 12-game ban.

BBC News NI understands around six supporters have been identified by the club following the game last weekend and are to be issued with stadium bans.

Fans wearing masks, whose faces are partially-covered or who try to bring alcohol into the ground, will be refused entry.

"The board of directors wish to acknowledge the efforts of the vast majority of fans who created a wonderful atmosphere throughout Friday's game, spoiled only by the actions of a small faction," Derry City said in a statement on the club website.

It said the incident during last week's game "could easily have escalated into a much more difficult situation".

"Derry City FC is intent on creating an environment whereby all supporters can attend matches safely and we won't allow the actions of a few troublemakers to ruin that."

Last season, the club announced a number of measures at the ground following violent scenes after a match against Bohemian FC.

They included rival fans entering and exiting through different gates at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

After that match in August, both Derry City and Bohemians condemned the "disgraceful" scenes witnessed on Lecky Road and Lone Moor Road.

During the trouble, masked groups armed with sticks, bats, and iron bars clashed before and after the match.

Footage shared on social media showed fans fleeing as fireworks exploded near the stands, and the game itself was paused briefly when a flare ignited part of the pitch.

The club has paid a number of fines in recent years because flares were lit during matches.

In February 2023, Derry City chairman Phil O'Doherty warned anyone lighting flares would be removed from the stadium and "banned for life from attending future matches".