Showing their true colours.
The FAI gets a lot of slack – and maybe rightly so – but they deserve a lot of credit for making a statement in their latest move.
On Friday, the Irish soccer's governing body announced that the Republic of Ireland players will wear jerseys sporting the LGBT rainbow flag when they face the United States at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday night.
The numbers on the back of each Ireland player's top will feature rainbow colours as opposed to the traditional white.
The FAI posted an image on Twitter showing the number 4 jersey of John O'Shea, Ireland's defensive stalwart who will turn out for the Boys in Green for the 117th and final time, drawing the curtain on a 17-year international career.
The image was captioned: "The back of match kit. Not just a number, this is a statement. Ireland, supporting #LGBT rights."
https://twitter.com/FAIreland/status/1002624583193817089
Some on social media complained, saying that it broke UEFA and FIFA rules about political and religious symbols on jerseys. Of course, any rational thinking human being will recognise that homosexuality is nothing to do with politics or religion. What the FAI is doing is simply showing solidarity during Pride Month.
The majority of replies hailed the FAI's move.
https://twitter.com/Miriam_Kennedy/status/1002667756779720704
https://twitter.com/CelticResearch/status/1002647384210530305
https://twitter.com/steve_mc13/status/1002868205294104576
https://twitter.com/ussoccer/status/1002679900241833984
https://twitter.com/RyanMKiii/status/1002675988797558785
https://twitter.com/DublinPride/status/1002645965726273537
https://twitter.com/FAIreland/status/1002949205516804096
The friendly in Dublin is Ireland's last match until the Euro Nations League opener against Wales in September.
It is set to be a big night for Graham Burke, who may earn his first start for Ireland.
The Shamrock Rovers striker came off the bench against France in Paris on Monday but may be handed a starting berth by Martin O'Neill with Shane Long out through injury.
