FIFA has closed a racism case involving the Republic of Ireland due to insufficient evidence. The incident occurred during a friendly match against Kuwait Under-22s in Austria on June 19. Republic of Ireland Under-21 substitute Sinclair Armstrong was allegedly racially abused while warming up, leading to the Irish players walking off the field and the match being abandoned.
The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) reported the matter to FIFA and UEFA, emphasizing their zero-tolerance policy towards racism. However, FIFA has confirmed that the case has been closed, citing insufficient evidence.
The Kuwait Football Association had denied the accusations, claiming the match’s abandonment was due to “excessive roughness and tension between the players.” The FAI had submitted a formal complaint in September, but FIFA’s decision suggests that they couldn’t substantiate the claims.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has been vocal about addressing racism in football, emphasizing the need for forceful action against it. He believes that racism has no place in football, and the game should be halted if such incidents occur.
FIFA has previously imposed sanctions on discrimination cases, leading to stadium closures and fines for the football associations of countries like Ecuador, Mexico, and Serbia. During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, a Social Media Protection Service was offered to teams and players, allowing them to hide abusive and offensive comments on social media platforms.
While FIFA’s efforts to combat racism in football are evident, the closure of this particular case involving the Republic of Ireland highlights the challenges of proving such incidents, despite the commitment to eradicating racism from the sport.