Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:-
“Today the Sports minister’s inherent bias was laid bare for all to see.
“This minister has been belligerent in insisting that when it comes to funding boxing clubs they must be affiliated to the only governing body she recognises, the IABA, which notoriously failed to grapple with the sectarian abuse to which Sandy Row club was subjected. Thereby, she has denied funding to those clubs refusing to affiliate to the IABA but affiliated instead to the NI Boxing Federation.
“Yet, today in announcing her stadia support programme for football she excluded any requirement for beneficiaries to be affiliated to the IFA and deliberately included playing in the Republic’s league as a qualifying criterion. Clearly, this is to enable her to lavish funding on the Brandywell Ground.
“Her double standards are exposed. When I challenged her on the matter in the Assembly her pitiful response only underscored the blatant bias of her approach.”