ZURICH: The fall-out from the ‘poppy armbands’ stand-off between the Football Association and FIFA has now caused trouble for Irish football writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

The world governing body has opened a disciplinary case against the Football Association of Ireland over political symbolism at a match more than seven months ago.

FIFA had its attention drawn to the Irish issue by media reports after secretary-general Fatma Samoura defended its refusal to sanction players from England and Scotland wearing a poppy symbol on armbands during thier World Cup qualifying tie at Wembley next Friday, Armistice Day.

England and Scotland have threatened to defy FIFA and now its discplinary depaftment has acted against Ireland’s commemoration, in a shirt badge, of the 1916 Easter Rising. The badge was worn at a March 25 friendly against Switzerland in Dublin.

A FIFA statement said: “Disciplinary proceedings have been opened on this matter. Please understand we cannot comment further at this stage nor speculate on any outcome.”

The FAI could be reprimanded or fined for breaching rules prohibiting political and/or religious or personal statements at national team matches.

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