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

At the risk of inviting abuse...

I think FIFA is right on this one. I say this not as an anti-poppy person, because I reflect on what our grandfathers had to do in the war at this time of the year as much as the next person.

FIFA are a corrupt old bunch, who make a decision like this whilst doing nothing to sort out the racist abuse that is dished out at international football games (like some sections of the England crowd are any different on that score!) and are happy to allow some rather jingoistic national anthems to be sung before games.

However, in this instance we are letting our dislike of FIFA and the recent incredibly sentimental national feeling about our soldiers cloud our judgement. We are trying to say it is not political, yet why are we making such a fuss about this now when we have been happy not to wear poppies for the last 60 years or so since the last great war? I would suggest that the recent poppy militantism (is that a word?!) has more to do with the fact that we have soldiers being killed in action to this day and this, I'm afraid, is a very political issue.

If it isn't a political issue, why is our political figurehead getting involved?

As much as we Brits may be upset that we aren't allowed to have the poppies on the shirts, there are great sections of the world who would be offended by it, rightly or wrongly, and this is not what international sport is for. International sport is intended to reach out beyond national and political boundaries.

I don't see a problem in the fans and the players choosing to wear poppies on their everday clothes, should they wish to do so, but I agree with FIFA (for a change!) that things like this should be kept off the shirts on the field of play. We shouldn't be asking an organisation to have to make a judgement call on this kind of thing, particularly one that has demonstrated a spectacular lack of judgement in the past. Who knows what pressure they may come under next time, when a much more inflammatory gesture is attempted.

I also think that we have gone a little too far when people are wearing poppies, not because they are wanting to help out the charity involved or reflect on what others have had to go through, but because they're scared of what the reaction would be if they didn't. What kind of freedom is this that our forefathers fought for? If my grandad were alive today he would no doubt be offended by anyone who doesn't show the necessary respect at this time of year, but he would just as much be offended by empty sentimentality.

 

Re: they could always have...

You really have put forward some great ideas on this thread Dragon, bravo!!

 

Since when was wearing a poppy on your football shirt so vital?

I can never remember it happening in the past.

Wear a poppy on the clothes you go to work in if you want. Put your football kit on and do your job. Wear a poppy on the clothes you change back in to. You're not dishonouring anyone by not wearing a poppy for 90 minutes.

What a fuss over nowt.

 

Re: Since when was wearing a poppy on your football shirt so vital?

Well said

 

Re: Since when was wearing a poppy on your football shirt so vital?

"wear a poppy on the clothes you go to work in if you want to" - that's a good point as a footballers place of work is the football field but they have been denied the right to wear a poppy should it be their wish to do so.

 

Re: Since when was wearing a poppy on your football shirt so vital?

As I mentioned about the poppy being hijacked by certain politically lead groups.

FIFA have just confirmed that they have 2 English Defence League protesters on their Zurich headquarters roof.

 

Re: Since when was wearing a poppy on your football shirt so vital?

Oh dear it shouldn't have come to this.

Then again I've just googled and seen a picture of them with the flag demonstrating and I'm sure that will cause me less offence than Choudray and his mob burning the poppy at their demo. As you say though it's a pity football has been dragged into this

 

Re: Since when was wearing a poppy on your football shirt so vital?

Jay's got it in a nutshell.

Rule is fine to not allow it, nothing to do with football anyway.

I am sure if it was allowed, the same people would be up in arms if Iraq or Afghanistan took to the field in some sort of Muslim war dead symbols, or Argentina with a Malvinas badge.

It's never been an issue before, just let it go.

Just another sign of the mawkish, over-sentimental "Princess Diana" culture that seems ever more prevalant these days.

I will wear my poppy with pride, as it's my personal choice, nowt to do with my work or sport or f u c k all else for that matter.

 

Re: Since when was wearing a poppy on your football shirt so vital?

Plus these little diversions...keep people attention from asking... why are our young lads and lasses actually there...

 

Grow up ... and stop being so insular.

Why should they make a special case for us?

And just as an aside, if the FA are so put out by this, why don't they donate all profits from the game to the relevant charity.

god I can't be doing with this 'mighty england' mentality would you be happy for a another country to do something similar?

percieved muslim martyrs perhaps ?
irish republicans ?
germans ?

Its not often I agree with FIFA but this time they've got it right.

 

just pushes a quick single for 50 up.

 

Who's to say the FA arent donating the profits from the game to the relevant charity?

 

Rugby Football League taking a different stance - WELL DONE

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ru...to-wear-remembrance-poppies-this-weekend.html

 

They've backed down, poppies allowed on black armband

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...mband-as-Fifa-bow-to-government-pressure.html

 

FIFA are obviously Nazi's. And anyone who doesn't wear a poppy is a Nazi too. Or French.

Ill wear a white poppy. The red one is too abused by little engenders, fascists and ****ty politicians yo. Ve worthy of value.

 

Erm, so are they?

 

Don't be bringing thought and reason on here. You're Nazi aren't you?

 

I don't know the only people who know are the people at the FA

 

I think they might mention it. May even be required to by some rule or other.

Its not a private business run by some old gents club (although at times it might seem so)

If they were donating they'd let us know, believe me.

Even if they weren't there's lots of other stuff they could do (replace advertising hoardings with pictures of poppys?)

All this huffing and puffing just reaffirms to the world that we are insular and think we are some kind of special case.

And don't get me started on Cameron and his 'outrage' ... another knee jerk reaction, ought to think before he engages mouth

 

I'm sure if they were we'd have heard about it by now.