Damien Duff says he is “mortified for the league” after being forced to watch his Shelbourne side from a hill.
The former Chelsea forward was suspended for Shelbourne’s defeat against Bohemians on Friday after picking up five yellow cards.
During the 1-0 loss, Duff was pictured looking incognito wearing a black cap, scarf and a long jacket.
Standing in the uncut grass at Dalymount Park with a chair next to him, the image went viral. It gained attention across the country and the UK.
Duff says numerous people messaged him to joke about the incident, but he was keen to stress that the only embarrassment caused should be aimed at the league.
Interesting viewpoint for Damien Duff at Dalymount Park. pic.twitter.com/3Z5Yg0Yupk
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) May 16, 2025
After returning to the dugout on Monday night, Duff said: “I’m not on the socials, but I’m not stupid.
“I’d imagine it got a lot of airtime, probably a lot of laughter.
“I’m sure an awful lot of people thought I was embarrassed, I wasn’t one bit embarrassed.
“I find it a deeply embarrassing photo for the league.
“I fought as much as anyone for the league for four years, so you could say I’m mortified.
“‘Oh, Damien is mortified for himself’ – I’m not one bit mortified for myself, I’m mortified for the league.
They’re laughing at us, says Damien Duff
“We call it the greatest league in the world, I call it the greatest league in the world.
“But a picture has gone to a lot of countries around the world, some big people in the football world have texted me, laughing.
“I think for too long now people have laughed at Irish football and everything about us.
“Let’s not all fool ourselves and get carried away, the league is in a great place, a wonderful place.
“Yeah, great, the fans coming like you’ve never seen before, wonderful tight games, the most watched game, I think, in TV history.
“Last year up in the Brandywell, the most exciting league finish in years upon years, but let’s not get carried away, it was an embarrassing photo for the league, not me.”
Shelbourne’s title defence took another dent on Monday with a disappointing 0-0 draw against Drogheda.
It leaves them in sixth position, nine points off Shamrock Rovers at the summit.
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