Flares controversy: FAI agrees to CCTV and sniffer dogs at stadiums after minister’s funding threat

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has bowed to pressure to introduce tougher security measures such as sniffer dogs and CCTV at League of Ireland games after Sports Minister Patrick O’Donovan threatened to pull funding for new astro pitches.

This came after a child was hospitalised with facial injuries and serious damage was done to a new artificial surface costing €500,000 after a flare was thrown at the Louth derby between Dundalk and Drogheda United at Oriel Park, which Mr O’Donovan had attended.

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