SOCCER club Islandmagee FC has said it is investigating allegations that fans subjected a rival team to "a torrent of sectarian abuse" during a home game.
The abuse is alleged to have occurred during Saturday's NAFL Premier League match at Wilbourne Park against north Belfast's Crumlin Star.
In a statement posted on social media, a spokesman for the Ardoyne-based club said it wished to "register its disgust at the abuses towards management, officials, women and children" during the match, which it won with a result of 2-1.
"After scoring a winning goal in added time, we were subjected to a torrent of sectarian insults from the fans behind the goal. This included being called fenian ******s. The manager's wife was called fenian **** * and similar abuses were leveled at the coach's daughter," the spokesman said, adding that the club secretary's five-year-old son was left "traumatized and crying when his father was threatened with bottles and glasses".
The statement claimed that Crumlin Star fans faced sectarian abuse while leaving the Islandmagee grounds. It was also alleged that the Crumlin Star manager's wife and daughter's car was also "attacked on the way out".
"We at Crumlin Star are totally disgusted by this abuse, particularly of women and children," the spokesperson added.
"We have reported these incidents to the president of the Northern Amateur Football League."
In response to claims about some of its fans, Islandmagee FC said in a statement on Sunday: "We would like to make it clear that Islandmagee Football Club officials, committee, players, management and supporters in no way condone any form of sectarianism".
"As a mixed club made up of people of different backgrounds and religions over the years, this is something that would never be tolerated at Islandmagee. The club will fully investigate any allegations circulating on social media in this regard and will not comment further. ". until the full facts have been submitted to the appropriate governing bodies."
