THE FAI HAVE been fined 5k because of the use of a logo to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising, FIFA have today confirmed.
The Boys in Green wore the emblem on their jerseys during the friendly match against Switzerland in March.
“FIFA can today confirm sanctions imposed on several football associations for incidents during 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches and international friendlies,” a statement from football’s world governing body reads.
“[T]he Republic of Ireland has been fined CHF 5,000 for the display of a political symbol on the shirt during the Republic of Ireland v Switzerland friendly match.
“The Disciplinary Committee has taken these decisions after analysing all of the specific circumstances of each case.
“With these decisions, it is not our intention to judge or question specific commemorations as we fully respect the significance of such moments in the respective countries, each one of them with its own history and background. However, keeping in mind that the rules need to be applied in a neutral and fair manner across FIFA’s 211 member associations, the display, among others, of any political or religious symbol is strictly prohibited. In the stadium and on the pitch, there is only room for sport, nothing else,” said the chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, Claudio Sulser.
England’s FA meanwhile were fined 45,000 Swiss francs for wearing a poppy tribute to British war dead during their 11 November game against Scotland.
Scotland were fined 20,000 Swiss francs, while Wales and Northern Ireland were given 20,000 and 15,000 Swiss franc fines respectively for making their own tributes.
“The Irish FA is disappointed that the FIFA disciplinary committee has reprimanded the association and issued a fine in relation to acts of remembrance at the Northern Ireland v Azerbaijan match on 11th November,” a statement reads.
The Irish FA will examine the full written submission when it is released and will take further legal advice before deciding on a future course of action.”
