Linfield Demands Apology Over Badge Use in Alliance Party Post
Linfield Football Club expressed that it was "shocked and extremely disappointed" on Friday after its badge was used in an image accompanying a social media post by the Alliance Party. The post was promoting a bill aimed at addressing "abusive flags."
The image featured a flag bearing Linfield FC's badge alongside the text "striking the right balance."
South Belfast MLA Paula Bradshaw, who is proposing the bill, issued an apology to the club "for any offence caused," which Linfield described as a "conditional apology."
The Alliance Party explained that the flag was used "in conjunction with highlighted text about legitimate cultural expression, but was misconstrued by some." The graphic was subsequently removed to "avoid any misrepresentation, deliberate or otherwise."
'Shocked and extremely disappointed'
Linfield stated on Friday that it was "shocked and extremely disappointed" to see the club's badge used in a political message linked to "abusive flags."
"The club engaged at an early stage with representatives of the party responsible and secured the deletion of the offending post.
"A rather conditional apology from their South Belfast MLA has since followed.
"With all due respect, and in particular context of previous issues between this club and other elected representatives of this party, it is difficult to see any other reasonable interpretation of the use of a Linfield FC flag as the sole imagery accompanying an article referring specifically to 'abusive flags'," a Linfield statement said.
"We did feel that the matter had been brought under some control yesterday evening, however, until an inappropriate and undignified late night intervention from that party's leader."
The club added that it "now awaits full and unconditional apologies from the Alliance Party and the individuals in question."
Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw's Apology
Alliance Party MLA Paula Bradshaw addressed the issue on social media, stating she had "seen a lot of commentary on a graphic used" in her posts regarding her flags bill entitled "Striking the Balance."
"This has rather missed the point. Flags celebrating sports clubs would generally be permitted under my bill."
She also apologized for "any offence caused."
In a statement, the Alliance Party said: "This bill is intended to resolve the issue of the flying of flags across Northern Ireland, and it remains vital to have that conversation."
Political Reactions
The posts have drawn comments from other political figures.
Democratic Unionist Party leader Gavin Robinson posted on social media:
"First the shirt. Now the flag. What is it about Linfield that provokes such intolerance from Alliance Party. Embarrassing."
In response, Alliance leader Naomi Long said:
"Why on earth would you assume that a Linfield flag was meant to be representative of the negatives suggested in this post rather than the positives about celebration?
Maybe you're just exposing your own bias."
Traditional Unionist Voice MLA Timothy Gaston commented:
"When one has to apologise for a social media campaign promoting a proposed law it's probably an indication that what you are proposing will make bad law."
