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Northern Ireland\u2019s football manager has branded those captured in an online video singing a sectarian song as \u201cmindless idiots\u201d.<\/p>\nNorthern Ireland\u2019s football manager has branded those captured in an online video singing a sectarian song as \u201cmindless idiots\u201d.<\/p>\n
The footage of a number of people, some wearing Northern Ireland football shirts, singing \u201cwe hate Catholics\u201d to the tune of Tiffany\u2019s I Think We\u2019re Alone Now emerged earlier this week.<\/p>\n
The video was taken in a Belfast bar on Sunday \u2013 the day Northern Ireland beat Belarus in a European Championship qualifying match in the city.<\/p>\n
International boss Michael O\u2019Neill said the behaviour was in no way representative of 99.9% of Northern Ireland fans.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think there\u2019s certainly no place for that kind of behaviour but I tend not to dwell on that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s one or two mindless idiots to be honest \u2013 that\u2019s not a reflection on 99.9% of the support.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs I\u2019ve said all along, the Northern Ireland team is for everyone. And certainly that\u2019s the message \u2013 we are stronger together and we will continue in that vein.\u201d<\/p>\n
O\u2019Neill, who on Thursday launched a new children\u2019s coaching program run by the Irish Football Association (IFA) and McDonald\u2019s, said Northern Ireland fans had established a reputation around the world for the \u201cfantastic atmosphere\u201d generated at home games.<\/p>\n
He said it was important for fans to keep to those high standards of behavior away from the stadium as well.<\/p>\n
The IFA has said it takes a zero tolerance approach to sectarianism and it is working with the police to identify those involved.<\/p>\n
In the wake of the incident, a Co Tyrone football club \u2013 Killen Rangers FC \u2013 said it was investigating whether disciplinary measures should be taken against any members who attended Sunday\u2019s match as it apologized for the \u201cobvious offence\u201d caused to Catholics.<\/p>\n
Police have said they are aware of the footage and their inquiries are ongoing.<\/p>\n
They have appealed for anyone with information about those involved to come forward.<\/p>\n