FIFA have confirmed now that they are evaluating whether to impose a sanction on Ireland over the display of a political symbol on their jersey for the Ireland-Switzerland friendly on Good Friday.
They appear to have been prompted to look again at Ireland after some England fans kicked up a fuss over the ban on the display of the poppy for this month's England-Scotland qualifier.
Defending the ban on poppies, a FIFA spokesperson cited the law which stated that "players equipment should not carry any political, religious or commercial messages."
They added that:
"The laws are applied uniformly in the event of similar requests by any member association to commemorate similar historical events."
Conservative MP Damian Collins reminded listeners on BBC Radio 4 that Ireland had been allowed wear a special jersey commemorating the Easter Rising.
"I've seen as well, someone has shared with me on social media an Ireland football shirt which has a special embroidery marking the centenary of the Easter Rising and FIFA allowed that. So, I think people will find it astonishing that the poppy is not allowed."
"It is insulting to people in this country to say a poppy is one of those [political] symbols" says @DamianCollins on #FIFA poppy ban pic.twitter.com/Cm7WV4Mgdj
— BBC Radio 4 Today (@BBCr4today) November 2, 2016
Certainly, the Irish jersey worn against Switzerland in March does break the ruling prohibiting equipment bearing political messages.
A FIFA spokesman said “The disciplinary committee of Fifa is evaluating the matter.”
