NI Charity Shield OFF after clubs' European commitments clash

Linfield
Author: Nigel GouldPublished 27th Jun 2018
Last updated 27th Jun 2018

The traditional Irish League Premiership’s Charity Shield season opener has been cancelled.

Champions Crusaders were due to meet Irish Cup winners Coleraine in the showpiece final on July 28 – just ahead of the start of the 2018-19 league programme.

However, in a statement today NIFL said the game would no longer take place because of “difficulties in securing a date due to the European commitments of clubs on the propose date."

Holders, Linfield (main picture) beat Coleraine 3-1 in last year's final.