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Linfield drops sponsor over sex offender involvement

Getty Images A view of a football stadium from the walkout tunnel. Linfield Football Club is written on a blue banner to the left of the tunnel wall against one of the stands. The football clubs crest is also on the banner. Getty Images
Linfield Football Club is the most successful club in the Northern Irish football league

Linfield Football Club has terminated a sponsorship deal following a backlash over the involvement of a convicted sex offender.

The Irish Premiership champions announced earlier this week it was "delighted" that Mooney's Master Butchers on the Shankill Road had partnered with it for the 2025/26 season, and shared a picture of businessman Stephen Mooney holding a Linfield shirt.

But in a statement on Saturday morning, the club said it had "terminated all sponsorship agreements with Mooney's Butchers, including sponsorship of the Linfield Academy."

Stephen Mooney was convicted in 2018 for sexually assaulting a woman. The club said it apologised for any distress caused.

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In the statement, the club added it would be "putting measures in place to ensure that all future sponsorship arrangements will be subject to internal vetting procedures".

"In addition the club will be making a donation to a victims related charity and wishes to apologise for any distress caused by this decision."

A red haired man with a red and white beard is wearing a navy top and looking to the camera. Behind him out of focus is a street with red brick houses and cars. A tree can also be seen behind him.
Belfast City Councillor Brian Smyth said Linfield fans have had to act as "the moral compass of the club"

Belfast councillor Brian Smyth told BBC News NI he does not think someone with a sexual conviction can have any role in a sports club.

"Linfield have finally made the right move but it's been led by the fans, and I think that's the real issue here," he said.

"That the fans have had to be the moral compass of the club."

He added Northern Irish football clubs in general need to improve their vetting standards and procedures.

Linfield is the most successful club in Northern Irish football and they play Bangor in an away fixture on Saturday.