The Football Association will send an email to every England fan who attends the Republic of Ireland match asking them not to sing offensive songs during the friendly.

The last time that Three Lions and the Republic met 18 years ago, the game had to be abandoned after 27 minutes due to rioting England fans at Lansdowne Road.

The history between the two countries means there is potential for trouble, and for offensive chanting such as the "no surrender (to the IRA)" song, to take place, but the FA wants neither to occur on Wednesday night.

It is therefore sending an email to every England fan who has a ticket to the match, requesting that they refrain chanting songs which might cause offence.

In the email, which will be sent to fans tomorrow, England manager Roy Hodgson says: '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.'

Hodgson will also ask England fans to refrain from such chants in his programme notes for the match, which is close to a 90,000 sell-out.