Referees outline concerns over Aura astro

The Irish Soccer Referees Society (ISRS) Donegal Branch have raised concerns over a football pitch in Letterkeny with the current lay-out causing potential for ‘contentious situations’.

The ISRS Donegal Branch have communicated with all league affiliates this week regarding their officiating at the Aura Leisure Centre Astro Turf playing pitch in Letterkenny.

League officials have been informed that the ISRS has requested several conditions for officiating at the venue ‘with immediate’ affect’.

The referees stress that the venue is ‘an excellent overall facility and playing surface, but note that the pitch and surrounding fence ‘does not have technical areas or dugouts for the team officials and substitutes to assemble’.

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“The main gate is the only access to and from the pitch facility and there have been several reports of spectators watching the matches from the sideline of the pitch inside the perimeter fence and only yards from the field of play,” the letter, signed by referee Dessie McLaughlin on behalf of the local branch, says.

“All of the above can lead to contentious situations throughout a match day, in the build-up, during and post-match setting.”

Leagues have made clubs aware of the referees’ requests following incidents at recent games hosted at the venue.

From here on, referees have requested that the facility will have a minimum two access routes to and from the pitch.

They have asked that technical areas be marked out and all spectators are to watch matches from outside the perimeter fence.

Only  players, managers/coaches, referee, match officials and those on the official match card will be allowed to pass the perimeter fence during play