FIFA Ban Poppy on England Shirt

[21st Century Fox]

Absolutely outrageous, who the fcuk do FIFA think they are?

You want to watch them play in it as well, awful.

??

[Guest MattP]

Least Cameron is making himself useful........

David Cameron has condemned the ban on England's players wearing poppies on their kit as "outrageous"

The Prime Minister called for Fifa to reverse the "absurd" decision that is stopping the team having the remembrance symbol embroidered on their shirts for this Saturday's friendly against Spain at Wembley.

He stepped in after it emerged that Fifa officials turned down the special request, made by the Football Association, claiming it would "open the door to similar initiatives" across the world.

Mr Cameron said: "This seems outrageous. The idea that wearing a poppy to remember those who have given their lives for our freedom is a political act is absurd.

"This seems outrageous. The idea that wearing a poppy to remember those who have given their lives for our freedom is a political act is absurd."

Prime Minister David Cameron Quotes of the week

"Wearing a poppy is an act of huge respect and national pride. I hope Fifa will reconsider."

The FA made a renewed plea for England players to be allowed to have embroidered poppies on their shirts on Saturday but this was also rejected by Fifa.

Common sense

A letter from Fifa to the FA sent on Tuesday said: "We regret to inform you that accepting such initiatives would open the door to similar initiatives from all over the world, jeopardising the neutrality of football.

"Therefore, we confirm herewith that the suggested embroidery on the match shirt cannot be authorised.

"There are a variety of options where The FA can continue supporting the cause of Remembrance. One of them already was approved by Fifa, the Period of Silence."

Earlier, Britain's Fifa vice-president Jim Boyce added his voice to calls for the governing body to permit England's players to wear poppies on their shirts against Spain at Wembley.

Boyce, from Northern Ireland, believed rational thinking should prevail, as he said: "Personally I think there has to be a bit of common sense used when requests like this come in.

"Armistice Day is a very important day in the FA calendar, as it is with other associations, and I don't think it would offend anybody to have a poppy on the shirts.

"I am not involved in the decision and I do understand there have to be rules.

FIFA's final say on poppies

Special request

"But as this is a special request from a member of Fifa and is not of a political nature I believe that common sense should prevail and that it should be looked at in a different light."

Fifa has allowed a minute's silence to be held before the sell-out game, for the England players to wear poppies on their training kit at Wembley on Friday, and to stand for the traditional two minutes' silence to mark the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11 month on Friday.

Fifa's rules prevent anything of a political nature being worn on shirts and although the organisation does not regard poppies as political, it is concerned it would open the door to countries wanting to wear various different emblems on their shirts, some of which would be overtly political.

Sports minister Hugh Robertson also wrote to Fifa on Tuesday urging it to re-think for both the England game and Wales' match against Norway.

Robertson's letter said: "We fully understand, and respect, Fifa's rules on its member nations not adorning their shirts with 'commercial', 'political', or 'religious' symbols or messages. The FA and FAW do not intend to contravene these rules.

"However, the British public feel very strongly about this issue which is seen as an act of national remembrance to commemorate those who gave their lives in the service of their country. It is not religious or political in any way."

??

It doesnt help, they are bad enough anyway without being handicapped by the kit.

[21st Century Fox]

But the point being that FIFA are there to govern football and not pass judgement on politics so by keeping any inference of it out they're protecting the sport. If teams want to break this rule, organise a match without FIFA sanctions and face the consequence. Its a far more sensible stance by FIFA than allowing teams to refuse to play each other because they don't agree with the others politics and keep it purely about football!

[Guest MattP]

But the point being that FIFA are there to govern football and not pass judgement on politics so by keeping any inference of it out they're protecting the sport. If teams want to break this rule, organise a match without FIFA sanctions and face the consequence. Its a far more sensible stance by FIFA than allowing teams to refuse to play each other because they don't agree with the others politics and keep it purely about football!

That would happen anyway regardless of the rules FIFA put in.

If Israel drew Saudi Arabia or Iran the two arabic countries would refuse to play the match, they should be allowed to show common sense and treat every case on a different basis, no nation in the world would have a problem with playing England with a poppy on the shirt, its absolutely absurd.

[Zingari]

I don’t think Leicester should be allowed to wear King Power on their shirts .

It’s a massive political message for a return to monarchical. rule

Keep politics out of sport you royalist basturds

[21st Century Fox]

That would happen anyway regardless of the rules FIFA put in.

If Israel drew Saudi Arabia or Iran the two arabic countries would refuse to play the match, they should be allowed to show common sense and treat every case on a different basis, no nation in the world would have a problem with playing England with a poppy on the shirt, its absolutely absurd.

But then every decision would be bogged down in a quagmire of interpretation and FIFA would be open to attack for sanctioning political judgement itself when its sole purpose is to govern a sport. Its far safer and simpler to make it a level playing field for all. Handing over a massive, oversized cheque for a few million before the game could make far more of an impact.

[Samilktray]

I'm laughing at how much of a big deal not being allowed a red flower on a kit for 1 game is to some people. Get a grip.

[accessory]

Camoron's intervention in this matter shows a disturbing lack of judgement on his part. If anything, it will make FIFA dig their heels in even more.

[Guest MattP]

Camoron's intervention in this matter shows a disturbing lack of judgement on his part. If anything, it will make FIFA dig their heels in even more.

Can you reply to the earlier question regarding Wilshire?

But then every decision would be bogged down in a quagmire of interpretation and FIFA would be open to attack for sanctioning political judgement itself when its sole purpose is to govern a sport. Its far safer and simpler to make it a level playing field for all. Handing over a massive, oversized cheque for a few million before the game could make far more of an impact.

You make a fair point, I still think we should be able to wear it, but your argument and reasons come across with a lot of sense.

[Filbert_Ross]

I'm laughing at how much of a big deal not being allowed a red flower on a kit for 1 game is to some people. Get a grip.

aint it,

Something England have NEVER done before.

Get over it.

Like someone else said, the F.A handing over a massive Cheque over to the British Legion before the game would be more purposeful, maybe the players could hand over their match fee's also.

[Uncle Albert]

FIFA clearly aren't going to give in on this matter bug surely there are other means of paying respect to our fallen heroes?

We're going to have a minutes silence/applause and wear black armbands, I also think survivors from both Wars should be the ones going down the line of players instead of the FA representives, would that not be a nicer way of showing respect?

As long as we remember those who have fallen and what they fought for then we shouldn't really need a Poppy to show our respect. That isn't me saying they're a waste of time either because I fully support the Poppy appeal and will always wear one.

[Finnegan]

Agree entirely with 21stCF. We're moaning like hell for not being given special treatment to talk the talk when we COULD be putting our money where our mouth is.

[Jordan]

I can't think of a similar situation where any other country has or would do something similar except maybe the US on veterans day and they would never even consider being told what to do by a vile organisation like FIFA.

Right.

In the United States' first game after 9/11, FIFA allowed the USMNT to wear "09.11.2001" embroidered on their sleeves. That, too, on the day the United States announced they had began military operations in Afghanistan.

Either FIFA has set precedent already, or they don't want to open the can of worms any further. Anyway, just food for thought.

[Wycombe Fox]

Steve Davis on Twitter

Couldn't the England team wear their red shirts and just put a black dot somewhere?

[Guest MattP]

Steve Davis on Twitter

Daft as it sounds, what a idea, get the red shirt, make an edition for the fixture Sunday, outline the poppy on it. Sell them off for the Royal British Legion.

[Raj]

Whay all the fuss about it now?

Is it the first time England have played a friendly/international at the time of Rememberance Day since the Poppy appeal was started up??

(THIS is a genuine question by the way!)

[Guest MattP]

Whay all the fuss about it now?

Is it the first time England have played a friendly/international at the time of Rememberance Day since the Poppy appeal was started up??

(THIS is a genuine question by the way!)

I think so, certainly can't ever remember a fixture on the Remembrance Sunday before.

[lcfcadam]

When??

I have seen them wearing it at the under 18 championships last year and at the Olympics. Thats also because its part of a perverse religious ideology, quite different to wearing a poppy.

(edit: I realise Olympics is different but I think FIFA still have some say over the rules and regs)

Careful there mate.

[Guest MattP]

Careful there mate.

They can lock me up before they silence me.

[purpleronnie]

FIFA clearly aren't going to give in on this matter bug surely there are other means of paying respect to our fallen heroes?

We're going to have a minutes silence/applause and wear black armbands, I also think survivors from both Wars should be the ones going down the line of players instead of the FA representives, would that not be a nicer way of showing respect?

As long as we remember those who have fallen and what they fought for then we shouldn't really need a Poppy to show our respect. That isn't me saying they're a waste of time either because I fully support the Poppy appeal and will always wear one.

I totally agree why the FA are focussing one one aspect of remembrance is a little odd.

[21st Century Fox]

I'm sure if you were able to ask any of the men who have given their lives for our country if they'd prefer the Prime Minister to be focusing on badgering FIFA into allowing some football players to be allowed to wear a poppy for 90 minutes or for him to put that effort into sorting out a decent pension for their widows to live on, you'd assume they'd go for the latter.

[Guest MattP]

I'm sure if you were able to ask any of the men who have given their lives for our country if they'd prefer the Prime Minister to be focusing on badgering FIFA into allowing some football players to be allowed to wear a poppy for 90 minutes or for him to put that effort into sorting out a decent pension for their widows to live on, you'd assume they'd go for the latter.

He made a 5 sentence statement ffs

[21st Century Fox]

He made a 5 sentence statement ffs

Considerably more effort than he's put into the latter then.

[Koke]

Whay all the fuss about it now?

Is it the first time England have played a friendly/international at the time of Rememberance Day since the Poppy appeal was started up??

(THIS is a genuine question by the way!)

England played France last November - no poppies were worn.

England played Brazil the previous November - no poppies were worn.

England played Germany in November 2008 - no poppies worn either

England played against Croatia [2007], Holland [2006] and on 12th November 2005 against Argentina - No poppies were worn on that day either.

[Raj]

surely the whole emphasis of the poppy appeal is primarily to amass as much cash for the British Legion as possible.

Yes they may gain alot of publicity if the team wear the poppies but surely its about getting as much $$$ for the charity.

Instead of making a massive deal out of it and havinf FIFA hate England even more than it does already,surely the players can just donate alot of cash to the charity???

Ive said this before and i'll keep on saying it until someone takes note!!!