FIFA bans Poppies on footballl shirts

[Gromit]

// Fifa have rejected a Government request that England and Wales be allowed to wear commemorative poppies in this weekend's friendlies, claiming the move would "jeopardise the neutrality of football." //

http://www.telegraph....-Government-plea.html

Not sure how this is any different than a team wearing black armbands or having a minutes silence before a match. Would it be disrespectful to England's guests to just ignore FIFA and pay any fine that might be imposed?

[welshlibranr]

I think they should all wear their poppies anyway, if a fine is imposed I'm sure they can afford to pay it!......they should all make a stand!....

[jno]

just ignore a ruling they don't like? Not a great precedent.

[Kayless]

I assume they mean some sort of embroidered poppy, the ones with pins would not be allowed on safetly grounds anyway. If so they should ignore FIFA, they are a bunch of corrupt crooks anyway, who are they to dictate shirt design?

[welshlibranr]

yes they should jno, because it's ridiculous, as Gromit said, they wear black ambands and observe a minutes silence when appropriate, and so why can't they wear the Poppy if they wish!...............

[jno]

sure, as long as you don't mind anyone else deciding they'll pick and choose which rulings they'll follow. Like the Iranian women's team banned from the Olympics for wearing headscarves.

[Answerprancer]

I smell approaching git.

[welshlibranr]

jno, this is not about the Iranian women's team!........it's about folk here wanting to honour the People who gave their lives during the World Wars!......

[chokkie]

I think Fifa are a disgrace ... if it wasn't for those soldiers, then those suits in Fifa probably wouldn't be here - neither football as we know it today!
If I was the CEO of the FA, I'd stick two proverbial fingers up at FIFA and insist that the players wear those shorts with the embroidered poppies. And they are auctioning them off for charity afterwards as well! And it's only a training game ....
Chox.

[welshlibranr]

here here chokkie!..........well said!..........

[Gromit]

But jno, it is not against the rules.

// Fifa's rules prevent anything of a political nature being worn on shirts and although the organisation does not regard poppies as political... //

[naomi24]

I don't know much about football, but if wearing a poppy is not against the rules, I can't see that FIFA's objection is reasonable or valid.

[welshlibranr]

naomi, thank you!......neither can I see a problem with them wearing the poppy!.....hope they all wear them!.......

[naomi24]

I'm with you Welsh. I think everyone should wear one.

[jomifl]

If they can have roses on rugby shirts why not poppies on football shirts.

[naomi24]

I thought of that too Jom.

[albaqwerty]

I've heard/read that the FA made the mistake of asking FIFA.
For future reference, just don't ask FIFA anything, just go and do it.
(Heard on the radio and read in the newspaper)

[welshlibranr]

naonmi, thank you!......I think we all should wear a poppy too!.....not much to ask, after the sacrifices made in two World Wars!.....

[albaqwerty]

and the ones thereafter Welsh :)

[welshlibranr]

quite so alba, they all need to be honoured!.........the ban is heartless and disgusting!............

[sir.prize]

FIFA's stance is based on "Regulations regarding Players' Equipment are that they should not carry any political, religious or commercial messages."

And the Umbro logo is ...?