Match officials said goalkeeper Alvin Rouse was subjected to racial abuse

Dungannon Swifts chairman Jarlath Faloon has hit out at Ballymena United fans' plans to boycott Tuesday's Premiership clash at Stangmore Park.

A group of Ballymena fans called the boycott after United were fined for allegedly directing racist remarks at Swifts keeper Alvin Rouse in August.

Faloon says the action could cost the Swifts as much as £2,000.

"We took no part in all this. The action was taken by the match delegate but we are being punished," he said.

"They are denying us our gate receipts and punishing us and this is money that we need to pay our players and meet our other financial commitments.

"We didn't attend the hearing (into the issue) but it's going to cost us a couple of grand.

"We're not going to retaliate in any way but this boycott is going to be to the detriment of the Irish League.

"It doesn't progress goodwill between the clubs in any way."

A Ballymena fans' spokesman said last week that the club's supporters at the game in August stood "accused of either being racist or tolerating racist remarks".

The fans say they will go to a reserve game instead and help pay the fine.

Ballymena were fined £1,250 by the Irish Football Association after match officials reported the racist chants at Barbadian keeper Rouse.

The incident was noted by the referee and IFA match delegate at a Carling Premiership match at Dungannon's Strangmore Park ground.

When the fine was announced, Ballymena took the case to the IFA Disciplinary Appeals Board, providing video evidence to back their case, but failed to get the verdict overturned.

The supporters' group spokesman added: "We hope our supporters will stand together on this because it has been deeply distressing and hurtful to have been wrongfully branded racist."

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