FAI fined by FIFA for 1916 commemorative jerseys

The FAI has been hit with a fine of almost €5000 for wearing a 1916 commemoration on their jersey earlier this year.

The players wore jerseys in their game against Switzerland on March 25 bearing a symbol to mark the 100th anniversary of the uprising against British rule.

FIFA opened disciplinary proceedings on the issue more than seven months after the incident in question but right in the middle of a row between the governing body and the English and Scottish associations over their planned use of the poppy logo.

They announced today that the FAI had been fined 5000 swiss francs (€4672).

Several member associations sanctioned for incidents during FIFA World Cup qualifiers and friendlies - https://t.co/OJEiutursm

— FIFA Media (@fifamedia) December 19, 2016

FIFA also announced they have fined the English and Scottish football associations for wearing and displaying poppies during the 2018 World Cup qualifier in Wembley on November 11.

As the hosts, England were fined 45,000 swiss francs while Scotland’s fine was less than half that, 20,000 francs.

Wales and Northern Ireland have also been fined for displaying poppies during their respective 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Azerbaijan.

In a statement on FIFA.com, they said: "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,” said the chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, Claudio Sulser.

"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."