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02nd Nov 2016

FIFA are ‘evaluating’ Ireland’s 1916 centenary jersey after British MP links it to Poppy controversy

Paul Moore

Ireland wore the commemorative jersey during a friendly against Switzerland on 25 March.

As the debate over England and Scotland not being allowed to wear poppies continues, FIFA have confirmed that they’re ‘evaluating’ why Ireland wore a special jersey to commemorate the 1916 centenary, as reported by the BBC.

Martin O’Neill’s men wore the special commemorative jersey during their recent friendly against Switzerland on 25 March. Ireland won the game 1-0 thanks to a Ciaran Clark header, but the decision to commemorate the Easter Rising is now being questioned by a British MP in light of the recent controversy surrounding the poppy.

Commons’ Culture, Media and Sport select committee chair Damian Collins MP wants FIFA to “clarify the issue” and he feels that FIFA are engaging in double standards.

He said: “I have asked FIFA to clarify the issue over shirts worn by the Republic of Ireland because that appears to be an absolutely classic example of leniency being shown to other countries”.

England and Scotland are set to meet in their World Cup qualifier on November 11th at Wembley.