On This Day – 15th February
Violence marred England’s trip over to the Republic of Ireland on this day back in 1995.
England were sixteen months away from hosting the European Championships and there were real fears that they would have the tournament taken away from them as a result of this violence.
Over the years, England fans had developed a reputation for violence and there were a lot of incidents whenever England played away from home.
There had also been regular football violence across England in the 1970’s and 1980’s at football matches. The Irish were prepared though and extra police and security were drafted in for the England friendly.
Many England fans had been banned from crossing the Irish Sea to the game but many still managed to get to Ireland for the game.
It is worth mentioning at this point that the trouble was caused by the minority here Most of the fans who had made the trip over for the game from England were there for the football and not to cause trouble.
The game was a real test for England, who under Graham Taylor had failed to qualify for the World Cup in the USA the previous year.
The Republic on the other hand had qualified and given a great account of themselves over in the States, having beaten one of the tournament favourites Italy in their first game. They also managed to qualify for the knockout rounds before being knocked out by an excellent Holland side.
Trouble began before a ball was kicked as some fans from both sides booed the opponents national anthem. Offensive chants began to be sung from very small pockets of England fans. A few even began to perform Nazi salutes.
Ireland took the lead in the 22nd minute after David Kelly latched onto a through-ball from John Sheridan to fire past David Seaman in the England goal. England then had a goal disallowed four minutes later and shortly after, the mayhem began.
Missiles were thrown from the England fans in the Upper tier of the Main Stand at Lansdowne Road onto the Irish fans below. Parts of the Stand were ripped out and thrown down including seats and metal poles.
As the missiles rained on the Irish fans below, Dutch referee Dick Jol called the players off the field and the game was abandoned.
A total of twenty people were injured in the violence and forty arrests were made by the Garda (Irish Police).
The fans in the lower tier of the Main Stand escaped from the missiles by running onto the pitch. Some England fans were also mixed in with Irish fans in the lower tier and also went onto the pitch.
Jack Charlton was apoplectic with the behaviour of some of his fellow Englishmen who had come over to watch their team play the Republic in this friendly.
The World Cup winner was the manager of the Republic team and when fans spilled onto the Lansdowne pitch, he grabbed some of the England fans to give them a piece of his mind.
England still hosted the European Championships the following year. The Republic of Ireland lost a Play-Off with Holland at the end of 1995 and in doing so, missed out on qualification.
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