JD SPORTS has been forced to remove a controversial Northern Ireland football shirt from its website after it became apparent it was being modelled by a man with a Republican tattoo.
The listing for the royal blue polo shirt has disappeared from the retailer’s website after users noticed the model had a Gaelic tattoo on his arm featuring the slogan “tiocfaidh ár lá”.
Translated as “our day will come”, though the tattoo on the man’s left arm appears to have been incorrectly spelt as “ticofaidh ar la” the slogan is one that has been widely used by Republicans in the past.
The slogan is also associated with IRA members like Bobby Sands and is a direct reference to the idea of a future united Ireland.
JD Sports’s blunder was first picked up on Twitter, where is drew widespread criticism.
“Why does the model for the new Northern Ireland polo shirt have a Republican tattoo clearly visible on his arm?” one person asked.
“It's a Republican tattoo for a start and secondly he is wearing a Northern Ireland polo shirt,” another said. “It's wrong on both levels."
The incorrect spelling was also noted.
One person asked: “That can't be real, surely he's not cutting about with the wrong spelling?”
While another said: “Either his is spelled wrong or mine is.”
The original listing has now been removed from sale with a JD Sports spokesperson telling the Belfast Telegraph:
“We were unaware of the model’s tattoo and can confirm the image has been removed from our website.”
