Due to the ongoing Troubles, England fans were extremely unruly, as well as violent, and wound up forcing the match to be abandoned.

The last time England had played Ireland at Lansdowne Road was a UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying Group 7 match on 14 November 1990.

[2] In pubs near Lansdowne Road stadium some English fans chanted "No surrender to the IRA", "Fuck the Pope" and "Clegg is innocent".

[3] Pub staff found British National Party literature left behind and in some cases pro-Loyalist graffiti in toilets.

"[9] The Garda handling of the match was criticised in the press when it was revealed that the Gardaí had been informed of the plans of some of the English fans to cause trouble by the British National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS).

[6][10] After questions were raised about the conduct of the Gardaí, former Chief Justice of Ireland, Thomas Finlay was appointed to investigate the events.

[7][11] Gardaí failed to act on a warning that 20 supporters of the England team who wore insignia of Combat 18 were travelling to the match.