Richmond Park Stand Closure for St Pat’s Home Games

Part of the main stand at Richmond Park will be closed for two of St Patrick’s Athletic’s upcoming home matches after a Waterford player was allegedly struck by a spectator during last Friday’s league game.

The incident occurred in St Pat’s 2-0 defeat to Waterford, with away player Jorgen Voilas reportedly hit from the stands. The fallout has been swift.

An independent disciplinary committee of the Football Association of Ireland has handed down a fine and ordered a one-match closure of Section G in the main stand. On top of that, the committee has triggered a previously suspended one-match closure of the same section, meaning a total of two home fixtures will be affected.

The club does have the right to appeal.

A League of Ireland statement confirmed the sanctions, referencing the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division fixture at Richmond Park on Friday, 28 August 2026, “during which a player was struck by a spectator”. It outlined the fine, the one-match closure, and the activation of the earlier suspended sanction, all focused on Section G.

The timing, though, spares one of the biggest fixtures on St Pat’s calendar.

With Bohemians due in Inchicore on Saturday and the turnaround deemed too tight to implement the closure safely, Section G will remain open for that game. The restrictions will instead hit their next two home league matches: the visit of Shamrock Rovers on 11 September and Shelbourne’s trip on 16 October.

The League of Ireland stressed that the delay is to “allow the necessary operational arrangements to be implemented”, confirming Section G “will therefore be closed for St Patrick’s Athletic FC’s next two home league fixtures”.

The decision can still be challenged under FAI Disciplinary Regulations, but unless St Pat’s succeed on appeal, two Dublin derbies at Richmond Park will be played with a section of the main stand shut and the club under scrutiny over supporter behaviour.