Two banners critical of FAI Chief Executive John Delaney among the travelling Irish fans were confiscated by Danish stewards at tonight's UEFA Nations League game in Aarhus. Two banners - one reading 'Delaney Out' and another featuring a photo of John Delaney with the quote 'My Problem Child' and #DelaneyOut' - were taken off the Irish fans carrying them. The banners were returned to their owners immediately after the game.
Photos of both banners circulated on social media ahead of the game, and multiple fans at the match told Balls that the Danish stewards carried photos of both banners in order to identify them.
Irish fans also carried A4 sized banners reading 'O'Neill Out', although there is no suggestion that there were any attempts to confiscate these.
One Irish fan in the crowd, Daryl Bolger, told Balls of the dismay among the travelling fans at the confiscation of the banners.
All we wanted was a peaceful protest, we didn't expect the Danish stewards to be instructed to take our banners away. I've been going to Ireland matches for a decade and I've never seen such an atmosphere and so many fans united against the FAI. The time for Delaney and O' Neill to go is long past.
The FAI have yet to respond to a request for comment.
The game itself finished 0-0, as Ireland's relegation to League C was officially confirmed. The result means that Ireland have not scored since the friendly game against Poland on September 11th, and have now gone four straight games without scoring, their worst run since 1995/96.
