FIFA Ban Poppy on England Shirt

[Collymore]

I thought remeberence poppy was for all people who died in war no matter what country or religion. I don't get politics

[ajthefox]

From today's Fiver in The Guardian

Made me laugh anyway.

Good read was that, sums up my feelings.

[Guest MattP]

I don't recall Prince William doing so in order to reach his.

Constitutional monarchy is the best form of democracy known to man when its done properly.

I'm glad we have it, takes power off that absolute bunch of idiots in westminster who just can't stop making the wrong decisions, just imagine had the Liberals been running the show ten years ago, we would be in the euro zone now and be absolutely on our knees.

[Jaspa]

This whole situation has been completely under-read by the public, and blown out of proportion by our authorities in order to score votes.

FIFA are simply trying to be neutral, if they let everyone wear symbols of Armies, publicly glorifying human sacrifice of life; we'l have Iran running around the pitch with motifs of Jews being decapitated, and all sorts .

Furthermore, when I saw this was raised in Parliament earlier, I couldn't help but think there are way too many more pressing issues to be sorted in the Country than this.

Thank fook FIFA have looked at how we show our respects properly ( most of the time ), and quickly took word from our future King.

[Koke]

If Republic of Ireland played England and they decided to wear Easter Lily to commemorate the War of Independence, , imagine the mass uproar by the public & gutter press. Would the same people tell FIFA to get stuffed?

Once you open a can of worms you cannot close it.

[Guest MattP]

If Republic of Ireland played England and they decided to wear Easter Lily to commemorate the War of Independence, , imagine the mass uproar by the public & gutter press. Would the same people tell FIFA to get stuffed?

Once you open a can of worms you cannot close it.

Yeah it should be up to them, it's there choice. It's about time the whole world grew a pair.

[Guest MattP]

A reasonable compromise.

Ive asked you twice now can you answer the question.

Why should Jack Wilshire be ashamed of being "English and proud"?

[The Doctor]

Ive asked you twice now can you answer the question.

Why should Jack Wilshire be ashamed of being "English and proud"?

Because it's ridiculous to be proud of a factor of which you have no control, something designed with the one purpose of segregating and labeling the entire species, forcing us into set lists so as to separate and control the worlds population, much like religion, so as the real world leaders can maintain the fear of both them and one another ingrained within the minds of a species. Until we, as a species, abandon all notion of religion, of nationality, of race, of class and embrace each other as all being one, the same kind, the same species, then there will be no end to the conflicts that constantly tear the worlds population apart

However I would suspect it was a "joke" about Arsenal being a french club rather than an English club?

[Guest MattP]

Pipe dream unfortunately Al, never going to happen so totally pointless to even think about it.

Can you imagine how boring the concept of a planet with no nations would be now anyway? Wouldn't make the Olympics much fun would it? In fact the concept of competitive sport sinks with it.

Wars would still be fought borders or not over resources, people would still be followed or worshipped if religion existed or not.

Surprised you got so worked up over Scotland if you subscribe to all that "one world" bullocks.

[The Doctor]

I go over the top with regards to Scotland, mostly because I see it as trying to keep hold of my Scottish heritage.

I don't know the exact percentages but by blood I'm (just) more English than Scottish, my Grandma was my main connection with Scotland and after she died 5 years ago I felt like I would lose part of my heritage. If I get worked up about Scotland then it's because I'm trying to keep my Scottish roots alive, that so long as I have that heritage then my gran is with me in spirit.

To a certain extent I do subscribe to the whole "one world" concept, but at the same time it's important to retain some differences. We are all one species, but each and everyone of us is unique and the balance between all being one and being unique is what needs to be strived for in order for us, as a species, to reach our true potential on this earth.

It would also appear after not much sleep and a few drinks I become quite philosophical.

[Alexikokopops]

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.

China might

Anyway, here's my favourite take on the matter, which was written yesterday before the whole armband thing popped up:

LEST WE FORGET THOSE WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES SO THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS MIGHT SQUABBLE CHILDISHLY OVER HOW BEST TO REMEMBER THEM

The Fiver can think of no better way of remembering Great Britain's war dead than sending England's footballers out to play their Spanish counterparts at Wembley. If anything is likely to remind us of the fallen, it's the sight of wave after wave of young Englishmen being picked off by Johnny Foreigner, having launched one ill-advised over-the-top attack too many in a series of depressingly futile attempts to get behind enemy lines.

But for some, a commemorative re-enactment of various historical slaughters soundtracked by the sound of idiots singing about Twelve German bombers is not enough, so the FA, assorted fans and media outlets have decided to mark the sacrifice made by millions sent needlessly to their deaths over the past century by relentlessly squabbling over a football team's right to wear shirts decorated with commemorative poppies during a match against Spain. Not before or after a football match against Spain, but during it, when ... let's face it, England's players will have far more pressing concerns than the absence of an embroidered flower from their sweat-drenched kit.

Anyone lucky enough to have been tripping on acid for the past 48 hours may be unaware that the mother of all stinks has been kicked up over a Fifa rule that forbids England's players from wearing poppies on their shirts during the match against Spain on the grounds that it is a political symbol that could jeopardise "the neutrality of football". Despite having been in place for a long time, it is a rule that singularly failed to perturb the FA in nine previous Novembers of yore; Novembers, coincidentally, when English football's governing body didn't feel the need to generate spurious controversies because of sour grapes over failed World Cup bids, or deflect media attention away from a national team captain who'd become embroiled in an embarrassing race row.

In order to confirm that the wearing of poppies could never be construed as a political act, Great Britain's prime minister, David Cameron, who is a politician, got involved this morning, going so far as to condemn the ban as "outrageous", but not so far as to declare it a great excuse for him to avoid tricky questions about an embarrassing controversy involving his home secretary telling fibs about her role in a scandal undermining national security. Cameron then declared his intention to write an angry letter to Fifa, demanding that England's footballers be allowed to show their respect for all those who have lost their lives in conflict in places like Afghanistan by sporting a symbol of the Islamic republic's lucrative heroin export trade. Whether or not he did this before or after the carefully orchestrated photo op in which he was spotted having a poppy pinned on his lapel by some young people remains unclear.

Ironically enough, one of very few voices of reason to have been heard over the unseemly din of the increasingly bonkers poppy-cock of the past couple of days has been that of Chris Simpkins, director general of the Royal British Legion, the charity which benefits financially from funds raised by the sale of the lapel decorations. "The FA has helped us explore every alternative available and we are satisfied that England will enter the competition knowing they have shown proper respect for our armed forces," he said, apparently satisfied with the planned pre-match Fifa approved minute's silence, during which England's players will wear Fifa-approved training tops featuring poppies.

For hysterical Little Englanders who consider such perfectly adequate marks of respect tantamount to peeing on the Cenotaph, the FA has helpfully issuing a list of other ways Remembrance Day will be marked during England's friendly against Spain, including a commemorative poppy wreath being brought out on the pitch before kick-off, poppies being sold inside Wembley, a giant poppy-shaped blimp being flown in the air above the stadium and all supporters being obliged to change their name to 'Poppy' by deed poll in order to gain access to the ground.

At the time of writing, two bozos from the English Defence League, an organisation not renowned for it's tight grasp on the concept of irony, had muscled in on the farce by clambering up on the roof of Fifa HQ in Zurich to selflessly protest on behalf of those left with no voice as a result of being too dead from fighting against the kind of people who espouse similar views to supporters of the English Defence League. Remembrance of the war dead doesn't get more dignified - well done football, well done.

[accessory]

Ive asked you twice now can you answer the question.

Why should Jack Wilshire be ashamed of being "English and proud"?

I'm sure Arsene Wenger and Thomas Mertesacker, among others, will explain it to him.

I doubt they'll have been impressed by the "We are England, we'll do what we want" attitude adopted by certain tabloids and the EDL and endorsed by Camoron. Such an arrogant, outdated mentality explains why we're about as popular as herpes not only at FIFA, but many other international organisations too.

[accessory]

As a reminder of why the poppy is becoming a symbol of everything it was intended to oppose, here's a story from 2009..

London mayor attempts to claim poppy wreath on expenses

[FoxyPV]

Maybe the FA should employ the EDL to do all their bidding in regards to FIFA as they certainly got much further than the PM, the royal family and the rest of the FA put together.

[ScouseFox]

I'm proud of being English. I like my country.

[Houdini Logic]

No one has yet explained why this is "political", it isn't.

It's no more political than a black armband is.

Are you really that simple?

The poppy represents the British Army and, as suprising as this may be to you, not everyone agrees with everything the British Army has done over the years.

Even if we keep other countries feelings out of this for now, do you think every catholic, muslim, Iraqi and Afghan individual in England wants to show their support for the British Army?

Whether you think it's right or wrong, to say it isn't political is a little bit silly.

[Guest MattP]

Are you really that simple?

The poppy represents the British Army and, as suprising as this may be to you, not everyone agrees with everything the British Army has done over the years.

Even if we keep other countries feelings out of this for now, do you think every catholic, muslim, Iraqi and Afghan individual in England wants to show their support for the British Army?

Whether you think it's right or wrong, to say it isn't political is a little bit silly.

It represents a show of respect for those who have died in war, that also includes people who work in aid, translation and others not connected to the British Army.

Of course not everyone would. No cause in the world would garner 100% support. The royal British legion isn't the British army. It's quite "simple" to think that it is.

[Guest MattP]

I'm sure Arsene Wenger and Thomas Mertesacker, among others, will explain it to him.

I doubt they'll have been impressed by the "We are England, we'll do what we want" attitude adopted by certain tabloids and the EDL and endorsed by Camoron. Such an arrogant, outdated mentality explains why we're about as popular as herpes not only at FIFA, but many other international organisations too.

What on earth? So Wenger or Mertesacker wouldn't want a team mate being proud of his country? Do you actually realise how ridiculous you sound?

If I went to Real Madrid and Xabi Alonso told me he was proud to he Spanish you seem to think that would upset me. Your opinion on this is beyond bizarre, you are absolutely nuts.

Cameron and EDL in the same sentence, impressive even for you that.

[Webbo]

I'm sure Arsene Wenger and Thomas Mertesacker, among others, will explain it to him.

I doubt they'll have been impressed by the "We are England, we'll do what we want" attitude adopted by certain tabloids and the EDL and endorsed by Camoron. Such an arrogant, outdated mentality explains why we're about as popular as herpes not only at FIFA, but many other international organisations too.

You're such a pr1ck.