Richmond Park Section G Closed for Two St Pat’s Matches

Part of Richmond Park’s main stand will fall silent for two of St Patrick’s Athletic’s upcoming home matches after a disciplinary ruling over an incident in last Friday’s defeat to Waterford.

The sanction follows an alleged flashpoint during St Pat’s 2-0 loss, when Waterford player Jorgen Voilas was reportedly struck by a spectator. The incident has triggered a strong response from the Football Association of Ireland’s disciplinary system.

An independent disciplinary committee of the FAI has handed down a fine and ordered a one-match closure of Section G in the main stand. On top of that, the body has activated a previously suspended one-match closure of the same section, meaning a total of two home fixtures will be affected. The club has the right to appeal.

Timing, though, has spared one of their biggest fixtures. With Bohemians due at Richmond Park on Saturday and preparations already in motion, the FAI has confirmed the closure will not apply to that game. The logistics are simply too tight.

Instead, Section G is currently set to be closed for the visits of Shamrock Rovers on 11 September and Shelbourne on 16 October, two fixtures that carry weight on and off the pitch.

“a fine and a one match closure of Section G of the Main Stand of Richmond Park” had been imposed, and that “a previously suspended one match closure of Section G” had also been activated.

The league added that, due to the short turnaround before the Bohemians clash, the closures would “take effect following that fixture to allow the necessary operational arrangements to be implemented,” and that Section G would therefore be shut for St Patrick’s Athletic’s next two home league games.

St Pat’s now face the prospect of hosting Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne with a portion of their main stand out of action and the spotlight firmly on supporter behaviour. The decision, as the FAI has underlined, can still be challenged under the association’s disciplinary regulations.