East Antrim MLA contacts Police Scotland after pro-IRA chants in Ireland Women''s football team's dressing room

Mr Hilditch contacted Police Scotland, UEFA and the Football Association of Ireland after a clip appeared on social media showing some of the team singing ‘Ooh aah, up the ‘ra’ in the dressing room at Hampden Park.

He said: "Unfortunately this is becoming an all too common occurrence, a team wins a trophy or qualifies for a tournament and their first thought is to chant about a terrorist organisation.

"We’ve seen it in the past and no doubt we will see it again in the future. An apology doesn't cut it. There are countless victims of IRA terrorism in both Northern Ireland and the Republic who will be rightly disgusted by the actions of this group of women who are supposed to be representing their country.

"UEFA needs to be sitting up and taking note. If this were a team chanting about Al-Qaeda or Hamas there would be widespread uproar and the team would most likely be expelled from the tournament. This is no different, but will we see action? I doubt it.

"The very least that should be done is the FAI should be withholding the players' match fees and donating them to an appropriate victims’ charity."

Police have confirmed they are investigating the incident.

In a statement, a Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We’re aware of the video and enquiries into the incident are ongoing.”

A statement from the FAI apologised on behalf of the organisation and team manager Vera Pauw “for any offence caused by a song sung by players in the dressing room”.

The statement also included an apology from the coach, who said: “We apologise from the bottom of our hearts to anyone who has been offended by the content of the post-match celebrations after we had just qualified for the World Cup.

“We’ll review this with the players and remind them of their responsibilities in this regard.

“I’ve spoken with players and we’re sorry collectively for any hurt caused, there can be no excuse for that.”