The manager of four junior soccer teams in Derry, which consist only of Protestant schoolboys, has withdrawn the teams from a league in the city because of fears of sectarian attacks.
Wesley Robinson said yesterday that he had decided to withdraw the Newbuildings FC's under-10, under-12, under-15 and under-17 teams from the Derry Youth League because of increased fears following a sectarian incident last week.
Last week an under-14 game between Newbuildings FC and Top of the Hill Celtic, from the mainly Catholic Gobnascale Estate in Waterside, was abandoned when about 80 loyalists shouted sectarian abuse at the Top of the Hill players.
The schoolboys sought shelter in dressing rooms beside the St Columb's Park pitch and police were called to disperse the loyalist mob.
Mr Robinson said that as a result of that incident, members of his teams had been subjected to verbal sectarian abuse at bus stops on their way to school on the predominantly Catholic West Bank area of Derry.
"We have only three or four games left to play in the Derry Youth League but after consulting with the parents, I've decided to pull the teams out and we don't know if we'll be back. We've been playing in the league for seven years and it's the first time the games have been marred by sectarianism.
"It all stems back to what happened last week and for the safety of the children we've had to take this step. Some of the boys have been verbally abused at bus stops on the city side."
Mr Robinson said it had been decided to pull the teams out for the rest of the season and no final decision had been made as regards next season.
"We informed the league authorities about our decision earlier this week. They can see our point of view that young boys should not be playing football in such situations. It is better keeping young players safe than putting them into those situations."