December 22 – The Irish Football Association says it wants an “urgent” meeting with FIFA after being fined CHF15,000 for its poppy-displaying act of remembrance at last month’s World Cup qualifier.
England’s Football Association have already announced it is appealing against its own CHF 45,000 penalty, but following a board meeting, the IFA said that although it cannot follow suit because FIFA rules only allows appeals against fines above CHF 15,000, it described the sanction as “extremely disappointing” and will write to president Gianni Infantino to “seek clarity” on the issue.
FIFA rules ban “political, religious or personal messages” on kits, while ground safety regulations say “the promotion or announcement of political or religious messages” in stadiums is “strictly prohibited”.
Northern Ireland’s fans formed a poppy mosaic and also laid a wreath before the Azerbaijan game on November 11 but the players deliberately stayed clear of displaying poppy symbols on their shirts for fear of the federation being punished.
With the four British nations all penalised to varying degrees for remembering the war dead of all conflicts from World War 1 onwards, there had been speculation they could join forces to challenge the FIFA fines.
Instead an IFA statement read: “The board of the Irish FA wishes to express its severe disappointment that the FIFA disciplinary committee issued the association with a fine and a reprimand for acts of remembrance at the Northern Ireland v Azerbaijan game on Armistice Day.
“In the weeks leading up to the match on 11th November, the Irish FA had discussions with FIFA to get guidance on what was permitted within the laws of the game.
“Having followed that guidance in the delivery of the acts of remembrance at the match, it is extremely disappointing that the FIFA disciplinary committee came to the conclusions that it did.
“The Irish FA cannot appeal the 15,000 CHF fine under FIFA regulations and having discussed the options at the board meeting this evening, the association will not pursue any further legal recourse.
“However, the association will write to the President of FIFA to arrange an urgent meeting to seek clarity on this issue going forward.”
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