Madam, – As one of the contingent of Bulgarian supporters who made their way to Croke Park for the international soccer match between our countries on Saturday, I was astonished to find we were herded into a corner of the ground, surrounded by a large body of gardaí throughout.
After the game, we were not allowed leave the stadium for over 20 minutes, until presumably all the Irish fans had left.
The reason for this security operation is beyond me.
In the days before the match, my compatriots and I wore our Bulgarian colours with pride – and experienced nothing but a warm welcome in the pubs and around Dublin. Everyone wished us well, saying “may the best team win”. A handful of seemingly wealthier people asked how we had the money to travel to Dublin, which was rather insulting, but the vast majority we met were wonderful people.
I have heard how Irish fans at big hurling and Gaelic football matches sit side by side in games of great passion without any trouble.
To my knowledge, you have almost no football hooliganism in Ireland, the worst incident in recent years occurring when English football hooligans came to Dublin in 1995, forcing the abandonment of a friendly international by their behaviour.
Imagine our shock and disappointment arriving at Croke Park to be treated as potential hooligans. Where was the risk from Bulgarian – or Irish fans – fighting each other?
We have never been enemies, and Ireland’s independence and culture and achievements within the European Union serve as a model of encouragement for Bulgaria.
Where was the camaraderie and wonderful hospitality we had experienced before and after the match – in the hearts of those who decided this security operation was necessary?
It was as if we were in England. The gardaí, or Croke Park, or soccer authorities are ditching a part of Irish culture – the wonderful camaraderie between fans at matches – and replacing it by mimicking what goes on across the water in Britain with stern saturation policing and segregated fans. I often wonder if one encourages the other.
In response to the couple of insulting people who questioned how we could afford to come to Dublin – I have a question of my own. In times of financial crisis, surely the Irish authorities can ill-afford to be wasting money on such policing operations – for phantom Bulgarian hooligans?
We Bulgarians who were there love Ireland and didn’t allow this idiocy and a 20-minute after-match lock-in spoil what was otherwise a great party.– Yours, etc,