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Referee Group Slates Stephen Bradley's "Vilification" Of Rovers v Derry Ref

Referee Group Slates Stephen Bradley's "Vilification" Of Rovers v Derry Ref
Eoin Harrington
By Eoin Harrington Updated
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Shamrock Rovers may be in the title race, but their fans will hope that they are not left rueing a hugely controversial incident from last week's draw with Derry City come the season's end.

Rovers travelled to the Brandywell last Friday hoping to take a massive step towards reasserting themselves in this season's title battle.

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As the sides entered injury time, it seemed as though a massive away win was on the cards - a win which would have seen Rovers close the gap significantly to the Candystripes and Shelbourne at the top of the league.

Then, Derry earned themselves a hugely contentious penalty, with replays showing beyond a doubt that Patrick McEleney had not been clipped by Josh Holohan.

Patrick Hoban would convert the resulting penalty, earning them a potentially pivotal and hugely controversial draw.

Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley was absolutely livid after the game, and mounted a scathing criticism of referee Damien MacGraith in his post-match interview with RTÉ.

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I think it's disgraceful, a really, really disgraceful decision from the referee. He's ruined what was a really good performance. It's awful, he's so poor. Tonight he's just shown it again. Terrible decision.

In a game like that, you have to be 100% sure, there's no way you can be sure there. It's an awful decision.

It was taken out of [Rovers'] hands tonight, you can't legislate for that. That's a disgraceful decision.

He's the worst [referee] in the league and that tonight is awful.

No matter how poor a call was made, the call-out of MacGraith as "the worst" referee was a line crossed from Stephen Bradley, and the Irish Soccer Referee's Society have not held back in their response to the Rovers boss.

READ HERE: David Clifford Reveals Irish Soccer Internationals Ran Rings Around Him At Underage Level

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READ HERE: Derry's Ireland U17 Prospect Secures Move To Premier League Side

Referees association slates Stephen Bradley for Rovers v Derry rant

In a statement released on Thursday, the ISRS responded to Stephen Bradley's incendiary post-match interview from last Friday.

They strongly condemned the vigour of Bradley's criticism, and singled out the personal nature of his comments as particularly unacceptable.

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The Irish Soccer Referees Society wish to condemn, in the strongest possible manner, the comments made by Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley, following the Derry City v Shamrock Rovers game last Friday September 20th.

His personalised vilification in the media of one of our most valued members, Damien Mac Graith in his post match interviews, has no place in sport.

Statements like "He's the worst in the league", among others should not be tolerated. The respect campaign needs to be more than words.

Strong words, and it's hard to argue - no matter any gripes about the decisions on the field.

It remains to be seen if Stephen Bradley will face punishment for his comments.

Since that draw, Shamrock Rovers beat Bohemians in Tallaght on Monday night to move within just one point of Derry and four of Shels - though both of their title rivals have a game in hand over the Hoops.

They host Dublin rivals St. Patrick's Athletic on Friday, with kick-off at Tallaght Stadium at 8pm.

SEE ALSO: Arteta Heaps Praise On 16-Year-Old Irish-Eligible 'Keeper After Arsenal Debut

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