The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has said that it is launching an investigation into the conduct of players after the Women’s World Cup Qualifying Play-Off, where players were seen singing an 'offensive' song.
The Women's National Team were seen signing an offensive song following their World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.
A video circulated on social media appeared to show the team, after the game, singing "Ooh ah, up the 'RA" - a song associated with support of the Irish Republican Army (IRA).
In a statement, the association said: "The FAI again apologises for any offence caused and we will continue to review this situation accordingly to ensure that our international players and staff, across all of our teams, are aware of their responsibilities."
This is the latest of several apologies.
The team's manager Vera Pauw said earlier this week: "We apologise from the bottom of our hearts to anyone who has been offended by the content of the post-match celebrations after we had just qualified for the World Cup."
"We will review this with the players and remind them of their responsibilities in this regard. I have spoken with players this morning and we are sorry collectively for any hurt caused, there can be no excuse for that," she said.
'There was a mistake made'
Speaking in Belfast, Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said it should not have happened.
"I haven't seen the footage, but I've of course have heard about it," he said.
"What I've seen is the apology from Vera Pauw and from the FAI, and also from a number of players.
"I think those apologies are very sincere; Vera Pauw has said that she apologies from the bottom of her heart for offence caused."
"Proud"
On Lunchtime Live, Wolfe Tones singer Brian Warfield defended the team, saying he was very proud of their marvellous achievement and that “they chose to celebrate it with a good song”.
He said there have been those who denigrate Irish rebel songs ever since he started out as a musician in the 1960s.
“Anti-Irish people who hate everything Irish,” he said. “They hate the music and they want everything to be pro-British.
“We live in a country called Ireland. We are Irish people and we have suffered terribly over the years.
“I am suffering this since the 60s. I started way back in 1963 and ever since then, Irish music and Irish song and Irish ballads – Irish historical songs you might say – have been blackened all over the place and it goes back years.”
Main image shows Republic of Ireland manager Vera Pauw talking to her players after the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 qualifier match between Republic of Ireland and Finland at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin, 01-09-2022. Image: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
