Get all the very latest news in Ireland straight to your email every single day Sign up! Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

FIFA has fined the Football Association of Ireland for displaying a ‘political symbol’ on Irish jerseys in March.

The FAI must pay 5,000 Swiss Francs (Euro 4,669) after Irish players wore jerseys commemorating the 1916 Rising in a friendly against Switzerland at Aviva Stadium.

FIFA have clamped down on displaying ‘political symbols’ on national shirts and other nations were also fined today.

The English FA has been slapped with a €42,000 bill, the Scottish and Welsh FAs €18,000 and the IFA close to €14,000 for displaying poppies in recent World Cup qualifiers.

A FIFA statement read: “The Republic of Ireland has been fined CHF 5,000 for the display of a political symbol on the shirt during the Republic of Ireland v. Switzerland friendly match.

“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.

“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.”