Wales charged by Fifa over 'supporters wearing poppies in the crowd'

Remembrance: Wales believes they had adhered to Fifa rules by not wearing poppies on their shirts
AFP/Getty Images
Tom Dutton23 November 2016

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

World governing body FIFA on Wednesday opened disciplinary proceedings against Wales and Northern Ireland in relation to their acts of remembrance at World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Azerbaijan respectively.

Both the FAW and the Irish Football Association have vowed to contest the charges they face.

But the FAW has gone further by detailing the incidents which FIFA has confirmed it is investigating, which include the fact that "some supporters in the stands wearing the poppy".

FAW chief executive Jonathan Ford said: "Our intention was to show respect on Armistice weekend which we feel we did in the right and proper way," he said.

"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.

"We are particularly disappointed that one of the charges relates to supporters in the stands wearing poppies."

It comes after Fifa opened disciplinary proceedings against England and Scotland for wearing poppies on black armbands during their World Cup qualifier at Wembley earlier this month.

Additional reporting by the Press Association

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