Anger grows over Fifa poppy ban
Wednesday 9th November 2011, 10:59AM GMT.
David Cameron has condemned the ban on England’s footballers wearing poppies on their kit as ‘outrageous’.
The Prime Minister called for the sport’s ruling body, Fifa, to reverse the ‘absurd’ decision that is stopping the team having the remembrance symbol embroidered on their shirts for this Saturday’s match.
He stepped in amid growing fury after it emerged that officials turned down the special request, made by the FA, 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.
“Wearing a poppy is an act of huge respect and national pride.
“I hope Fifa will reconsider.”
Bosses at Shrewsbury Town – whose skipper Ian Sharps helped launch the poppy appeal in Shropshire last month – said the ban was regrettable. Martin James, Shrewsbury Town community development manager, said: “It’s very sad that the national team won’t be able to show this important mark of respect.”
The England team are being allowed to wear poppies on their training kit at Wembley on Friday and pay their respects to the war dead with a two-minute silence.
But Fifa has issued a ‘final statement’ rejecting the FA bid for Saturday’s friendly against Spain, claiming it would ‘jeopardise the neutrality of football’.
In a letter to the FA, it 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.”
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Who the hell do they think they are?
I hope the players wear them, regardless of the ruling by this petty little body.
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So FIFA denied the request by claiming it would ‘open the door to similar initiatives’
So what it if does, how’s that a problem?
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Similar requests ? Oh you mean like allowing African nations to display the AIDs logo on their shirt during the African Nations Tournament?
Double standards once again from Mr Blatter and his anti-English corrupt organisation.
Blatter needs to remember if it weren’t for those for whom the poppy symbolises there would be no world football only German football!
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These are only friendly games anyway, go ahead and wear the poppy with pride, worst case outcome, a blatter fine, say £8.73
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I don’t care who does or does not wear a poppy, as long as i wear one..
But i’m a bit worried about the poppy becoming a symbol of right wing propaganda more than a symbol of rememberence
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In 2004 FIFA fined the Spanish FA a paltry £44,750, for racist abuse aimed by their supporters at Shaun Wright-Phillips and Ashley Cole during a Spain v England international
To hell with FIFA wear the poppy, it will be interesting to see what action they take against the English FA.
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The Barmy Blatter Brigade at it again,what an absolute waste of time the fifa committee is with it’s corruption and hideous decisions,wear a black armband with a poppy incorporated in it and carry on i say !!!
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Like it or not (clearly ‘not’ as my first reply wasn’t published), the poppy *is* seen as a political symbol by some people in some parts of the footballing world. FIFA’s position therefore is perfectly reasonable.
Also, we remember using our minds, not our shirts & we show respect with our behaviour, not a symbol.
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