Carla Ward has backed the Republic of Ireland players who decided not to wear a poppy while playing for their clubs earlier this month.
Four Irish players, including Arsenal’s Katie McCabe, decided not to wear a poppy during Women’s Super League (WSL) and WSL 2 action.
The other three players were Brighton’s Caitlin Hayes, and Crystal Palace pair Abbie Larkin and Hayley Nolan.
Carla Ward defends the Irish players who chose not to wear a poppy
Republic of Ireland head coach Ward, who was born on the Isle of Wight, has defended her players who decided not to wear a poppy.
The former midfielder said none of the quartet spoke to her about their decision beforehand, but feels any abuse aimed at them is “unwarranted”.
She said: “I think it’s important that everybody makes their own decisions and their beliefs are their beliefs, I think that’s really important.
“Everybody has lived through different experiences, and everybody is entitled to believe and feel in a way that they do feel.”
Responding to the abuse that McCabe, in particular, was subjected to on social media, she added: “I think that it was unwarranted because everybody has their own beliefs and reasons for those beliefs.
“I won’t mention what players or what club, but I actually was quite involved in a conversation with certain players and a club on how uncomfortable maybe a player was and wasn’t and the difference in that, the dynamic that that caused.
“But the way the club handled it was excellent, and they came together and found a solution as an entire team. I think that was really important because ultimately you never want players to be subjected to ridiculous abuse and it was undeserved, unwarranted.”
Why did the four Irish players not wear a poppy?
The four Irish players in question have not spoken out about why they decided not to wear a poppy.
However, Irish stars in the past have decided not to wear a poppy as they don’t associate with the British army for political reasons.
Irish men’s midfielder James McLean has long opted not to wear a poppy because of the British Army’s involvement in the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre in Derry.
McCabe and the other Irish stars who did not wear a poppy ahead of WSL and WSL 2 games did stand still for a minute of silence before their respective games.
What’s next for Ireland?
A 23-player squad to take on Hungary in an International Friendly in Spain ☘️
Ireland v Hungary | Nov 29th, 11:30 👊 pic.twitter.com/v2VlBYxmKL
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) November 18, 2025
Carla Ward was speaking ahead of the Republic of Ireland’s upcoming friendly against Hungary in Marbella behind closed doors on Saturday.
It will be their last fixture before a difficult World Cup qualifying group, alongside France, the Netherlands and Poland, commences in March.
Should Ireland fail to win that group, they will have to go through the playoffs to play at the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
