Unsavoury fan incident forces Leinster to launch quarter-final investigation

Leinster Rugby have taken to social media to condemn what they describe as an isolated sectarian incident which resulted in the removal of a spectator from the Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening.

A capacity crowd of 51,700 was in attendance for the all-Irish Champions Cup quarter-final derby against Ulster, a match for which the northerners received 25 per cent of the tickets.

Leinster went on to win the quarter-final 21-18, a victory that earned them a semi-final fixture against Toulouse in Dublin on April 21.

However, their victory was marred by an incident that resulted in one fan being removed from the ground after caused a disturbance.

“Leinster Rugby is aware of an isolated incident during yesterday’s game which was dealt with at the time by stewards and by Gardaí,” read a statement which Leinster tweeted on Sunday. “There is no place in sport or in our society for any form of physical or verbal abuse.

Thank you to the vast majority of the 51,700 who sang, roared, cheered and urged both teams on in what was a hugely special day for Irish rugby. Let that be the narrative. #KickItOut #ShoulderToShoulder #LEIvULS pic.twitter.com/x8roFHBfAc

— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) March 31, 2019

“Thank you to the vast majority of the 51,700 who sang, roared, cheered and urged both teams on in what was a hugely special day for Irish rugby. Let that be the narrative.”

One supporter used Twitter to publish a picture of the spectator who was allegedly removed. Adam Moursy (@adammoursy) wrote: “This fool spent the first 20 minutes of the 2nd half shouting sectarian abuse at a group of @UlsterRugby @UlsterRugbySP caused a Leinster supporting father & son to leave with the filth that was coming out of his mouth. No one should ever be abused at a match #LEIvULS @OLSCRugby.”

Irish 🏉 at its best

2 proud provinces going toe to toe for 80min

Two partisan sets of fans who love their team & the game@UlsterRugby can hold heads high. That includes our fans, who never cease to amaze me

Here’s to a Mun vs Lein final, & to Ulster winning the PRO14 🏆☘️🍺 pic.twitter.com/s0HwmlzfKj

— Darren Cave (@darrencave13) March 31, 2019

The tweeter later added: “Leinster supporter reported him, stewards and guards eventually got involved and he was removed.”

The removal of a spectator for shouting sectarian abuse marked the end of a strange week at the combined use stadium in Dublin as the Aviva witnessed tennis balls being thrown into the pitch last Tuesday during a fan protest at the Republic of Ireland versus Georgia soccer match.

An instant #ChampionsCup classic at the Aviva Stadium 👏@UlsterRugby and @leinsterrugby threw everything at each other in a thriller 🔥

Leinster go marching on in the competition winning 21-18 ✨ pic.twitter.com/nweC9x4eCX

— Investec Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) March 31, 2019