We, the signatories of this petition, are requesting that Football Association of Ireland ask fans of the Republic to only wear the Republic of Ireland shirts and regalia at international matches. Why do some fans wear the shirts of a foreign team at Ireland football matches Are they ashamed of the Irish jersey I'd imagine that if someone turned up at an England match in a Barcelona shirt, they'd be laughed at by all the other fans. Similarly, if some supporter of les bleus was seen sporting a Bayern Munich or Ajax jersey at a match involving France, he'd be treated with the appropriate contempt. So why should some Irish fans be different I'm referring of course to those fans who wear Glasgow Celtic shirts at Republic of Ireland matches. Glasgow Celtic is a Scottish team with some obsolete links to Ireland that are no longer relevant. That in itself would be of little consequence were it not for the fact that Glasgow Celtic's fans comprise one half of a low level Catholic versus Protestant bigotry that has been rumbling in Scottish society for centuries. Given the history of this country and island, it should be obvious that any association between Irishness and either side in this sectarianism would be very prejudicial to support levels for the team. There is a well documented problem in Northern Ireland where Roman Catholics don't feel welcome at Windsor Park. We don't need to have the same problem down here where the Republic of Ireland team becomes identified with Catholicism. So I'm calling on the Football Association of Ireland to respectfully ask fans of the Republic to only wear the Republic of Ireland shirts and regalia at international matches.