UEFA to investigate Irish side’s IRA chant (VIDEO) – RT Sport News

European football governing body UEFA has launched a disciplinary investigation into a video which appeared to show several members of the Irish women’s football team singing a pro-IRA song as they celebrated their qualification for the FIFA World Cup. world next year in Australia and New Zealand.

Ireland qualified for their first-ever Women’s World Cup with a 1-0 playoff win over Scotland at Hamden Park on Tuesday.

Shortly after the match, images emerged on social media of players singing « Ooh, ah, up the Ra », which is a lyric section of a song called « Celtic Symphony » by Irish band The Wolfe Tones.

The phrase is commonly accepted as being in favor of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), one branch of which, the Provisional IRA, was responsible for a multitude of terrorist attacks throughout a period known as the name of « Troubles » between 1969 and 1998.

In a brief statement, UEFA said it would investigate the incident to « potential inappropriate behaviorof Irish players and staff.

« In accordance with Article 31(4) of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations, a UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector will investigate possible inappropriate behavior by players of the Republic of Ireland women’s team following the second leg of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers. match played against Scotland on 11 October 2022,″ reads the statement.

« Information on this subject will be communicated in due course..”

Vera Pauw, the Dutch head coach of the Irish team, was quick to issue an apology on behalf of his team on Wednesday.

« We apologize from the bottom of our hearts to everyone who was offended by the content of the post-match celebrations as we had just qualified for the World Cup.« , said Paul.

« We will review this with the players and remind them of their responsibilities in this regard. I spoke with players this morning and we are collectively sorry for any harm caused, there is no excuse for this.”

Pauw addressed the issue again at a media event later Wednesday.

« We were made aware of a clip that went viral, coming out of the locker room“, she said.

« From the bottom of our hearts, we are so sorry because there is no excuse for hurting people. It was useless. I’ve already talked about it with several players and the one who posted it is devastated, she’s crying in her room. She is so sorry.

« But there is no excuse for this. If I had been there, to be honest, I wouldn’t have recognized [the song’s significance] because I’m a foreigner, I don’t know the song, I don’t know what it means.

« But we are a team that always respects everyone, and respect is the first axis of my first meeting with the players. That’s why I feel so at home in this team because there is always respect for everyone and the fact that it happened, there is no excuse for it.

« We can’t hurt people. It was part of the moment but that’s no excuse. It is therefore also an educational moment. We must take responsibility at all times, at all times.”