FIFA tell the referee if England walk onto the pitch wearing Poppy's he must....

they could always have...

an undershirt as most do..it could be a white one with a huge poppy front and back, perhaps the logo "Lest we Forget" too...they could then show it off at full time when the shirt swapping goes on

 

Re: would be good if all our players got a poppy face painted on their cheeks..

This seems to be another example of people vs FIFA and football losing touch with groundswell of opinion. With odd exceptions like Eaststander who is perfectly entitled to his opinion (but ironically demonstrates the benefit of free speech and expressing his personal views unlike Mr Blatter who is politicising something un-political).

I think England should call FIFA's bluff. If the match WAS abandoned a good legal team could show examples of teams wearing black armbands as a precedent and draw the comparison with the poppy (wear a poppy as an armband?). They could then sue the pants off FIFA for loss of income, costs incurred by fans etc. as a result of match abandoned.

The adverse publicity worldwide of abandoning would do a lot of harm to FIFA in any case.

I really think football WILL implode in the not too distant future and IO, for one, would like to see a return to sanity and affordable football for all like it was in the 60's an 70's. Forget "lower standards"... remember Pele, George Best, Eusebio, Banks, Lev Yashin all came from that era of lower wages and access to grounds on pocket money for kids.

 

Re: well if not then Wembley must become sea of poppies

Why all this fuss now? Why hasn't it mattered in previous years or is it first time we've had internationals around this time (since 1921)?

It's a game of football that's been hijacked by the 'Proud to be British' brigade. It was suppose to be a fund raising item produced by the disabled society for the Royal British Legion.

I would be far more impressed if all the England players donated a weeks wage to the fund than wear a poppy for 90mins.

 

totaly agree with all of that

but we will kowtow as usual, Cameron has now got involved too.It seems that Blatter and his sycophants have now forced it to become political.Call it off I say and in future do not arrange any fixtures near to sensitive dates in the future.

 

Re: totaly agree with all of that

Call it off I say and in future do not arrange any fixtures near to sensitive dates in the future.[/QUOTE]

Spot on!. This would save anymore embarrassment to this once proud nation.

 

I'd walk out without one, give all the players a poppy to keep in their sock and just before the minute's silence get the players to put 'em on.

And if they call it off, they call it off. Which they won't. The f.ckers.

 

well I think you are correct in the date thing

It may well be that its not fallen like this before, but I am a bit disturbed by your "proud to be British Brigade" statement... do we take it that you are not then? Also the Poppy is to remember ALL who died in thewars...and let me tell you not ALL were, or have been, British either who fought and died for the allies.

 

I wonder if any of the players would have the balls to defy the FA and actually do as you suggested. In my eyes it would be in order and a firm two-fingered salute to FIFA instead to our never forgotten heroes

 

totally agree.... what if the players just decide to play, like a 90 min kick abart

could four or five officials stop em, I think not.... I am sure that a ref and set of Lino's could be foundfrom the Britisn and Spanish public who would be willing to say **** of Blatter and officiate the game.

 

Re: totally agree.... what if the players just decide to play, like a 90 min kick aba

Hope the army turn up!

 

Re: well I think you are correct in the date thing

Over the past couple of years the poppy has become more symbolic, mainly due recent conflicts, but also as a stand against the political correctness nonsense for fear that we may offend others.

All I was saying is football is being hijacked by people rights of expression. It's a game of football.

And are you saying that I'm not British, because I don't think football is the place for this argument?

 

I hope the players who care have the balls to do something about this

as others have said wear a Poppy underneath the shirt and show it at the end of the game or something along those lines. Don't let the FIFA Nazi's get away with this!

 

Re: I'd quite like to see the crowd hold up cards making the shape of a poppy at one

Just **** off fifa will do.

 

Re: I'd quite like to see the crowd hold up cards making the shape of a poppy at one

FA Have just released a statement:

http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/NewsAndFeatures/2011/Remembrance-Day-2011

FA statement: Remembrance Day

The FA would like to clarify that the organisation and England players at all levels will be showing their respect and marking Remembrance Day in a number of ways.

We have been working closely with the Royal British Legion who have welcomed our support. We can confirm that:

• The England players will wear black armbands during the Spain game on Saturday
• The FA will place a poppy wreath on the pitch during the national anthems
• There will be a one-minute silence ahead of kick-off
• Players will wear training tops with embroidered poppies on match day
• Players will wear poppy-embossed anthem jackets during the national anthems
• Military representatives will be in the presentation party prior to kick-off
• The FA has donated 500 England v Spain tickets to 'Tickets for Troops', for members of the Armed Forces, and 1,000 tickets for the England v Sweden game on Tuesday (this is standard FA policy for Wembley matches)
• The England senior squad will train at Wembley on Friday ahead of the Spain game. They will observe the two-minute silence at 11am, all wearing training tops embossed with poppies. This session will be broadcast live
• The training tops embossed with poppies will be passed onto forces' charities post-match as auction items for fund raising
• The poppy will be visible around Wembley on Saturday, on the scoreboards and advertising boards, and poppy sellers will be in the stadium to allow supporters to donate to the poppy fund and show their support
• On Thursday, England Under-21s play Iceland in Colchester and England U19s play Denmark in Brighton. All players and staff will be wearing poppies pre- and post-match
• Both the Under-21s and U19s will observe a one-minute silence, too, at their games - the Under-21s will do so alongside troops from Colchester barracks.

 

Maybe all those you mention actually want to wear them? You seem to assume, again, that they don't.

 

Re: I'd quite like to see the crowd hold up cards making the shape of a poppy at one

Excellent idea!!

 

Re: I'd quite like to see the crowd hold up cards making the shape of a poppy at one

Well afer reading that statement it seems like they have done everything possible to appease people. I wonder if they have shown any gumption and told FIFA how the majority feel about poppies not been allowed to be worn on field of play

 

Re: well if not then Wembley must become sea of poppies

Not sure, but maybe customising kits DURING the season (often for one-off matches) is becoming more of a trend: http://www.football-shirts.co.uk/fa...p-for-heroes-special-edition-shirt-2011_13792

A black armband would have sufficed in the past.

Incidentally, shouldn't the experienced officials at the FA have known better in regards all of this?

 

Re: totally agree.... what if the players just decide to play, like a 90 min kick aba

what about a black armband with a poppy on?

i agree that FIFA shouldn't be "banning" the poppy but theres been a complete overreaction if you ask me. there's plenty of other ways to show your support for our boys... wear one on the tracksuit top they wear when they come out, for example? it doesn't HAVE to be on the playing kit...