UEFA have fined the FAI €20,000 for the scenes which saw the Ireland women's team filmed singing "Up the Ra" in the dressing room at Hampden Park after October's World Cup play-off win.
The clip saw the team singing along to the climax of the Wolfe Tone's 'Celtic Symphony', and garnered reaction both at home in Ireland and in the UK. The incident came in the aftermath of Ireland's 1-0 win over Scotland, which qualified the team for the World Cup for the first time ever.
Criticism came from several quarters for singing a song glorifying the IRA.
UEFA have responded to the incident by handing down a sizeable fine to the FAI.
Ireland WNT: €20,000 fine punishment for 'Up the Ra' chant
In a statement, UEFA said that the incident violated the "basic rules of decent conduct":
Following an investigation conducted by a UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector regarding the potential inappropriate behaviour by players of the Republic of Ireland Women’s team in the aftermath of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers play-off second leg match played against Scotland on 11 October 2022, and the subsequent disciplinary proceedings opened against the Football Association of Ireland, the Uefa Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body has taken the following decision: to fine the Football Association of Ireland €20,000 for the violation of the basic rules of decent conduct.
Apologies were fulsome at the time of the incident from manager Vera Pauw and the Irish team, in the eye of a public inquest.
In response to the fine from UEFA, the FAI released the following statement:
The Football Association of Ireland notes and accepts the sanction by the Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body of UEFA following UEFA’s independent investigation into a potential breach of UEFA’s Disciplinary Regulations.
The FAI and the Republic of Ireland Women’s National Team has apologised to all affected by events after the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Play-Off against Scotland in Hampden Park in October.
The FAI has assured UEFA that all players and staff across all of our international teams have been, and will continue to be, reminded of their responsibilities every time they represent their country.
The FAI will be making no further comment on this matter.
Vera Pauw and her team will hope this draws a line under the 'Up the Ra' incident, which soured the mood in the aftermath of a terrific sporting triumph.
They have been in action only once since the play-off in Glasgow, for a training camp in Spain during which they played two friendlies against Morocco - one behind closed doors.
They will face co-hosts Australia, alongside Nigeria and Olympic champions Canada, in next year's World Cup, which gets underway in July.
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