Erris football team pulout of Statoil sponsored cup in support of the Rossport 5
mayo |
rights, freedoms and repression |
other press 
Wednesday November 22, 2006 03:29
by supp
more local oppostion
THE Erris-based football club, Valley Rovers has sensationally pulled out of this year's FAI Junior Cup.
The club officially notified the FAI of its intention to withdraw yesterday (Monday).
They described the action as a "boycotting" one taken on the grounds that the high profile knock-out challenge is sponsored by Statoil, who are one of Shell E&P Ireland Ltd's partners in the Corrib gas project in Erris.
The Statoil FAI Junior Cup is one of the biggest soccer knock out tournaments in Europe.
In an official statement Valley Rovers F.C. said it had been disappointed to see local people from its parish, Kilcommon, being treated in a "heavy handed manner" by Gardaí as they protested at Shell's first attempts to resume work at the terminal site in Bellanaboy.
http://archives.tcm.ie/westernpeople/2006/10/11/story33...6.asp
Comments (4 of 4)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4It takes guts to disengage from something you've being training up for, like the FAI Junior Cup. It would be an interesting exercise to look at other events sponsored by Shell/Statoil and see how many people are willing to do likewise...
What sort of fool are you
this is old boot , story broke sometime last month .
sport is ment to unite . politics and sport do not and should not mix
would it not be better for that team to participate in the competion and bring traveling support which could also highlight the protest with shell/statoil, remember teams in this competion are from small villages and towns would this not be a better avenue to go down ???
If your so anti shell/statoil why dont you boycott all goods which use byprducts which are manafactured from oil , then again what would you do with out your
NYLON Y FRONTS AND YOUR ANORAK .
There is a long tradition of sports boycotts- from the GAA refusing to let crown forces play to the sports ban on Aparthied South Africa. It's a recognised and legitimate form of protest. Fair play to this team for not accepting money from a company which wants to buy positive associations while destroying the environment of Mayo.
At a Clare Shell to Sea Meeting appreciation was expressed for the action of the Valley Players who gave up their place in the Statoil sponsored tournament. It was accompanied by a loud bout of hand clapping. Statoil critcs from Norway are visiting Ireland this coming week and will be in Rossport. Provision to introduce the team to them should be made and we would like to have them lead rallies whenever and maybe come to Dublin to help out with tha Statoil protests on the Norwegian embassy.
Indymedia Ireland is a media collective. We are independent volunteer citizen journalists producing and distributing the authentic voices of the people. Indymedia Ireland is an open news project where anyone can post their own news, comment, videos or photos about Ireland or related matters.