Bird lovers have filed a formal complaint after FIFA officials removed a banner condemning the shooting of birds in Malta just before the national team's World Cup qualifier against Hungary in Budapest last Wednesday.
Birdlife Hungary has written to the Hungarian Football Association and the commissioner of civil rights demanding an explanation.
The ornithological organisation wanted to highlight the issue of illegal hunting in Malta so it obtained permission from the Hungarian Football Association to sanction a large banner with the words 'Stop killing the wild birds in Malta'. But some 15 minutes before kick-off, Hungarian FA representatives informed Birdlife they had been instructed by FIFA to remove the banner after a number of Maltese supporters at the stadium objected, Birdlife official Peter Fehervari said.
"To date we did not get any official response, but according to the local media, the banner was removed because the FIFA official said it would fine the Hungarian FA if it stayed on," Mr Fehervari told The Sunday Times.
A Malta Football Association insisted it was not the MFA which objected to the banner in question.
"I was approached by a FIFA delegate before the match and asked whether we considered the words in the banner to be a political statement. We simply said it was up to them to decide," the official said.
However, he confirmed that some of the 100 or so Maltese supporters present at the Puskas Ferenc stadium did object.
FIFA lays down strict conditions on the messages displayed in banners. Football's governing body's regulations state officials will bar any 'racist, xenophobic cause, charity or ideological concern' messages in stadiums. Birdlife Hungary said it considered its message to be apolitical.
"During the process of approval (from the Hungarian FA) no one mentioned it. Moreover, there was nothing written on our permit saying that FIFA could simply ignore the Hungarian FA's decision and remove our banner. All we wanted to do was to save the lives of protected birds," Mr Fehervari said.
Birdlife decided to emphasise to the Hungarian and Maltese public that it was aware of the "appalling situation" of illegal hunting in Malta. "We wanted to raise the attention of Maltese hunters and trappers that their issue reaches beyond the borders of Malta and we know what is happening. It seemed to be a good idea to use the football match. We did it in 2007, without any problems."
Mr Fehervari emphasised that the action was not directed against Malta or its citizens since the overwhelming majority objected to illegal hunting.
"Our action was against the reckless poachers in Malta who damage our common European natural heritage. Although we welcome the Maltese government's decision not to open the spring hunting season this year, we are very concerned about the reports of illegal hunting."