Glentoran board at its Oval ground deny rumours it had invited Martin McGuinness to Irish Cup Final

GLENTORAN Football Club have moved to quash rumours that it is has invited Sinn Fein chief Martin McGuinness to the Irish Cup Final next month.

Malicious rumours have been sweeping east Belfast and social media sites that the club had extended an invitation to the deputy first minister to be one of their guests.

Glentoran take on Danske Bank Irish Premier League champions Cliftonville in the showcase game of the season at Windsor Park in May.

But on Friday night, the chairman Aubrey Ralph and his board of directors dismissed the rumours.

In a statement, the club said: “We wish to confirm that despite rumours to the contrary, neither the Chairman of Glentoran Football Club nor anyone connected to the club have invited deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness to attend the Irish Cup Final as a guest of the club.”

The Irish Football Association had already announced that the national anthem will not be played at the Irish Cup Final.

But it denied that it had been approached by either club not to play the national anthem.

The IFA said it wanted to create a neutral venue for all fans and may consider not playing it at future Cup Finals.