Football legend Ray Houghton has launched a staunch defence of the Irish women’s team after they were filmed singing a pro-IRA song and declared: "They didn’t mean any harm."
The player-turned-pundit, who became a Boys in Green hero after scoring key goals against England and Italy during his career, also said he doesn’t believe it should be taken any further.
The controversial clip shows jubilant players in their dressing room jumping up and down while chanting “Ooh, ah, up the RA” after their historic victory against Scotland on Tuesday night.
The 1-0 victory in Hampden Park secured their place in the World Cup for the first time. The tournament will be held in Australia and New Zealand next year.
But the triumphant victory has been marred by controversy after the clip went viral.
The video has sparked a police probe and UEFA has also launched an investigation.
Several players and background staff were visible in the video while the Wolfe Tones’ song Celtic Symphony played out.
The song contains the lyrics “ooh, ah up the Ra” and those in the clip can be heard chanting it.
Speaking exclusively to The Irish Mirror, former Irish and Liverpool football ace Ray Houghton said: “I think it’s madness that’s it all kicking off.”
The 60-year-old, who put on the green jersey 73 times between 1986 and 1997, added: “They’ve apologised.”
Ray continued: “I don’t think it should be taken any further than that, I don’t think there’s anything in it. They didn’t mean any harm at all.”
But Police Scotland told the Irish Mirror that “enquiries are ongoing” but refused to say whether or not anybody had been spoken to in relation to the incident.
While UEFA told us: “We do not comment on open disciplinary investigations. We have no other information to provide you with at this stage.
Earlier this week, the Irish women's football boss apologised profusely and revealed the person who posted it was devastated.
Dutch-born Vera Pauw said she wasn’t aware of the song’s significance but stressed there was no excuse.
Speaking earlier this week, she said: “We were made aware of a clip that has gone viral, out of the dressing room.
"From the bottom of our heart, we are so sorry because there is no excuse for hurting people. It was unnecessary.
“I have spoken already with several players about it and the one who posted it is devastated, she is crying in her room. She is so, so sorry. But there is no excuse for it.”
She added: “But we are a team that is always respectful to everybody and respect is the first line of my first meeting with the players.
“That is why I feel so at home in this team because there is always respect for everybody and the fact that this has happened, there is no excuse for it.
"We cannot hurt people. It was part of the moment but that is not an excuse. So it is an educational moment also. We need to take responsibility at any moment, in any time.”
While Irish player Chloe Mustaki said: “We're all really sorry here in Dublin.
“It was obviously a massive lapse in judgement on our end, you know, lots going on when the final whistle went and we absolutely didn't mean to cause any hurt on our end so we do really apologise for that, absolutely.”
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