Support NeoGAF

[Gowans]

Fifa has again rejected the Football Association's request for the England team to wear poppies on their shirts during Saturday's game against Spain.

The FA had asked for permission to wear poppies to support Remembrance Day.

But Fifa said: "Such initiatives would open the door to similar initiatives from all over the world, jeopardising the neutrality of football."

Football's world governing body decrees that shirts should not carry political, religious or commercial messages.

Fifa has allowed a period of silence to be held prior to England's friendly against world champions Spain at Wembley, which takes place the day before Remembrance Sunday.

England will also wear poppies on their training kit, and on Friday they will stand for a two-minute silence.

Earlier on Tuesday, Sports Minister Hugh Robertson wrote to Fifa seeking permission for the England and Wales teams to wear poppies.

Robertson said: "Wearing a poppy is a display of national pride, just like wearing your country's football shirt.

"The British public feel very strongly about this issue - it is not religious or political in any way."

British Fifa vice-president Jim Boyce added: "I think there has to be a bit of common sense used when requests like this come in.

"Armistice Day is a very important day in the FA calendar, as it is with other associations, and I don't think it would offend anybody to have a poppy on the shirts."

England midfielder Jack Wilshere tweeted: "My great-grandad fought for this country in WW2 and I'm sure a lot of peoples' grandparents did.

"England team should wear poppies on Saturday. It's the nation's tradition and it would be disrespectful not to."

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15643295.stm

Disgusting! Everyone I know if really pissed of about this.

 

[Burli]

Disgusting! Everyone I know if really pissed of about this.

Sounds like you're just pissed

Also: This is bullshit

 

[Regulus Tera]

FIFA will only let you do shit to your uniform if they can make some money out of it. This isn't surprising.

 

[The Technomancer]

But Fifa said: "Such initiatives would open the door to similar initiatives from all over the world, jeopardising the neutrality of football."

Football's world governing body decrees that shirts should not carry political, religious or commercial messages.

Its...hard for me to have a problem with that.

 

[Huevos de Oro]

I googled poppies and GIS showed me flowers, is this correct?

 

[Clydefrog]

But FIFA has a good point:

But Fifa said: "Such initiatives would open the door to similar initiatives from all over the world, jeopardising the neutrality of football."

sorry, chaps

 

[Yen]

Its...hard for me to have a problem with that.

Rules are rules.

 

[Gowans]

Sounds like you're just pissedt

I am too, a few big footy boys on my facebook feed are having a good old vent.

 

[Regulus Tera]

Its...hard for me to have a problem with that.

My problem with this is that it's a fucking friendly match and not a FIFA-sanctioned tournament.

 

[Represent.]

I am for this. Open one door and everyone expects something in the future. Just keep it neutral. They never asked to wear Poppy's last year, whats different about this year?

 

[Perfect Blue]

I see nothing wrong with this. Wouldn't be a good incident if the poppy pin stabs a player wearing it.

 

[gutter_trash]

why not just have it printed on the jersey instead of a pin?

 

[WedgeX]

It says not of a political nature. And Remembrance Day is about the ending of WWI. Which then lead to the Treaty of Versailles. Which was quite political, right?

 

[sangreal]

I googled poppies and GIS showed me flowers, is this correct?

http://www.poppy.org.uk/
I think it is this

 

[Wazzim]

What's a poppy?

Edit: ah now I see.

 

[Yen]

It says not of a political nature. And Remembrance Day is about the ending of WWI. Which then lead to the Treaty of Versailles. Which was quite political, right?

It concerns all wars and soldiers, does it not?

 

[Kurtofan]

What's a poppy?

 

[PJV3]

Good decision.

 

[SpectreFire]

Imagine all the diving calls with those pointy pins!

 

[sangreal]

It says not of a political nature. And Remembrance Day is about the ending of WWI. Which then lead to the Treaty of Versailles. Which was quite political, right?

Nice edit...

 

[WedgeX]

Nice edit...

I only added the ", right?" Wasn't that much of a statement prior to that.

 

[StealthGoblin]

The problem I have with this decision is that the Poppy is simply a sign of respect for those who have died in any wars (its not just WW1 and 2, it includes the Falklands war now, for example).

The principle is remembering those who died, and I don't think anyone could be against that. It is one of the least 'in your face.. . .haha' symbols there are out there.

Showing that sign of respect and gratitude is a nationwide/continentwide feeling and international matches are national team games.

I understand the need for rules on this, but it should be on a case-by-case basis.

 

[Clegg]

Yet FIFA are perfectly willing to have a World Cup in a country where racism is rife (Russia) and another WC where women are discriminated against and Sharia law pervades society (Qatar).

And they want us to believe that they weren't bribed by these host countries?

 

[Dresden]

Just have poppies with Adidas logos on them, they'll probably get approved then.

 

[Empty]

fifa are terrible but i think this is not a huge deal so long as we can have a minute's silence before the game to commemorate the war dead as a symbol in its place.