The England team manager Roy Hodgson has written to every England fan with a ticket asking that they refrain from offensive chanting of religious or a political nature during Wednesday’s Wembley game.

As well as posting the fans letters Hodgson is also having his sentiments printed in the game’s 90,000 ticket, almost sell-out, program.

In the letter he states, “Ahead of the Ireland fixture, on behalf of The FA, I would like to ask our supporters to please respect our opponents and welcome them in the right way.

"Wembley is considered the world over as the home of football and we ask those attending to not take part in any chanting - particularly of a religious or political perspective - which could cause offence to our visitors or fellow fans."

The Football Association of Ireland is expected to issue a similar warning to their 10,000 away fans, Huffington Post reports.

Due to the two countries’ history there is potential for trouble between the fans. Eighteen years ago when England played Ireland at Landsdowne Road, in Dublin, the game was called off after 27 minutes due to rioting.

The brutal murder of Lee Rigby, in Woolwich, last week also brought the English Defense League, a far right street protesting group, out in force, and tensions among minorities in England are simmering.

The teams and their fans are set to observe a minute’s silence for the slain British Army soldier, and a Drummer of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, Lee Rigby, who was savagely murdered in Woolwich last week.

On May 22 Rigby was hit by a car. The two suspects then used knives and a cleaver to stab and hack the off duty soldier to death before dragging him into the road. They remained at the scene and shouted that Rigby had been killed to avenge the killings of Muslims. Police arrived on the scene and the two knife wielding suspects were shot and remain in custody.

The attack has been condemned by political and Muslim leaders around the world.

The English Football Association will likely consult with the FAI over the minute’s silence. However due to the circumstances of the killing and the general worldwide revulsion it is unlikely that the Green Army will object.