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Welsh FA charged by FIFA over fans wearing poppies as Irish FA also faces proceedings

The Wales and Serbia players line up for the national anthems prior to their World Cup Qualifier in Cardiff
Image: The Wales and Serbia players line up for the national anthems prior to their World Cup Qualifier in Cardiff

The Football Association of Wales (FAW) has announced it has been charged by FIFA over supporters wearing poppies in the crowd during the match against Serbia.

FIFA's disciplinary committee has decided to open proceedings against the FAW and the Irish Football Association (IFA) following the World Cup Qualifiers between Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan in Belfast on Friday November 11 and Wales and Serbia in Cardiff on Saturday November 12,

The FAW has been charged in relation to several incidents including "some supporters in the stands wearing poppies".

FIFA announced the charges despite the IFA and FAW agreeing their players would not wear poppies to mark Armistice Day during the matches.

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England and Scotland defied FIFA regulations by wearing armbands featuring a poppy when they met at Wembley on November 11 and are already the subject of disciplinary proceedings.

Northern Ireland and Wales instead wore plain black armbands, but they have still fallen foul of FIFA rule 4.4 concerning political, religious or commercial messages.

The Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan teams stand for a minutes' silence on Armistice Day before their World Cup qualifier
Image: The Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan teams stand for a minute's silence on Armistice Day before their World Cup Qualifier

Northern Ireland held a minute's silence, laid wreaths and displayed a poppy mosaic in the crowd, while the Welsh laid wreaths at the side of the pitch and also had a crowd mosaic.

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The FAW was also charged in relation to a member of the armed forces holding a bunch of poppies at the exit of the tunnel, the displaying of the mosaic during the anthem of Wales and a banner depicting the poppy that was displayed by Wales supporters of Wales before the match started.

Soldiers hold poppy wreaths ahead of the teams entering the field of play during the FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier between Wales and Serbia
Image: Soldiers hold poppy wreaths ahead of the game between Wales and Serbia

Both nations, as well as England and Scotland, now face the possibility of a fine, while even a World Cup qualifying points deduction is possible, although the IFA and FAW intend to staunchly defend themselves against the charges.

An IFA statement read: "The Irish Football Association will robustly defend the disciplinary charges that have been levelled against it by FIFA regarding acts of remembrance at the World Cup qualifying match between Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan on 11th November."

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Highlights of Northern Ireland's World Cup Qualifer against Azerbaijan

FAW chief executive Jonathan Ford said: "Naturally as an association we are disappointed and surprised at the news. Our intention was to show respect on Armistice weekend which we feel we did in the right and proper way.

"We also adhered to the rules and regulations of the competition and the communication from FIFA prohibiting the FAW request for the players to wear the poppy symbol on the armbands or the field of play.

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Highlights of Wales' World Cup qualifier against Serbia from Group D

"We are particularly disappointed that one of the charges relates to supporters in the stands wearing poppies. Naturally as an association we will strongly contest the charges."

The case will be submitted to the FIFA disciplinary committee on December 9 and the FAW says it has until November 29 to respond.

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