Fifa charge Ireland over 1916 centenary jersey amid poppy controversy

The Republic of Ireland team has been charged over the commemorative Easter Rising jersey they wore during a friendly in April.

Fifa have ruled that teams are not allowed to display political, religious or commercial symbols on their kit. Under the ruling, Fifa have banned players from wearing poppies on their kits. The controversial ruling has received a lot of backlash, most notably from British prime minister Theresa May and MP Damian Collins. Speaking at prime minister's questions, May said that it was "utterly outrageous" that football's world governing body turned down the request to allow players togging out for the England and Scotland game in Wembley on Armistice Day to wear armbands bearing a poppy symbol, despite the fact that this compromise was reached when the two teams played each other in 2011. Commons' Culture, Media and Sport select committee chair Collins claimed Fifa's ruling was an example of double standards. He questioned why the ruling was made after Fifa allowed the Republic of Ireland to wear a jersey commemorating the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising earlier this year. The Boys In Green wore a jersey featuring a special badge bearing the official logo of the 100th anniversary of the Rising during a friendly against Switzerland on 25 March. Respected sports reporter for the Times Martyn Ziegler has confirmed that Fifa have charged Ireland over the jersey. https://twitter.com/martynziegler/status/794500130066010112?lang=en We'll keep you updated as this story progresses.