The English and Welsh FA have written to FIFA for 'permission' to wear a Poppy on the players shirts on Saturday.
FIFA have refused the application on grounds of political, religious or commercial reasons.
Political ? No, it is a symbol of men women and children who suffered and died during two world wars and wars against the British Empire.
Religious ? No. People of all faiths died fighting for a cause to suppress tyrants hell bound on world dominance and ethnic cleansing.
Commercial ? No. There is no monetary or personal gain. Only a nations expression of gratitude and remembrance for those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
I hope the English and Welsh FA stick their two fingers up to FIFA and Blatter in particular.
Sepp Blatter, being Swiss, he obviously does not understand a country's sacrifice. How dare he and FIFA say no.
If those who fell decided not to go and fight the great fight, there would not even be a Europe like we see today. I hope we go ahead and wear a poppy anyway. What can FIFA do ? Any action or sanction would only make them look even more detached from reality than usual.
WEAR YOUR POPPY WITH PRIDE.
Poppy's and FIFA.
posted on 9/11/11
Some great ideas, especially cutting the grass to make an outline of a poppy. Class
I wonder if the spineless kn o bs in the FA would remove personal poppys if FIFA told them to.
Does this mean the 200 soldiers cannot wear a poppy on the pitch before the game? Is even allowing 200 soldiers on the pitch classed as a political statement of armed power?
Can the staff and players on the bench wear a poppy? I know I would, and it would one of those great big plastic ones off a car. I'd have it on a chain around my neck.....RBC is in da house...!!
posted on 9/11/11
Yeah good point about the soldiers. Forgot about that. Another idea is the players should hide em in their socks, then if they score whip them out as a celebration....
....however we are England and they are Spain so i doubt we will score any
We should just play with them. How bad are FIFA going to look if they actually punish England for wearing poppies on the day.
Fed up with FIFA flexing their muscles over pointless rules, whilst disregarding ideas that could actually improve the game. Its a joke.
posted on 9/11/11
Looks like a poppy will be visible on the England trainig kit for the warm-up, but not on the shirt they are playing in.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2059166/Fifa-poppy-ban-England-footballers-outrage-says-David-Cameron.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
reason number 289 to hate Sepp Blater.
posted on 9/11/11
Sepp blatter should be made to visit The Menin Gate in Ypres and Tynne Cott cemetry at Passiondale.
I visited both after thr Brugge game, and if he is not moved by what he sees then the man has no soul.
Just reading some of the 55,000 yes thats fifty five thousand names of men who have no known graves certainly brought a tear to my eye.
LEST WE FORGET
posted on 9/11/11
Bluezulu, must have been very moving being at the war graves after the Bruges game.
I don't think FIFA understand the importance of this issue to the British public. This has nothing to do with being a so-called warmonger or a Nationalist, it is about saying thank you to those brave men and women who have sacrificed so much for the people of this country. It is incredible what these people do & we just want to say thank you and help those who have suffered in the course of doing the mazing work they do. Just been buying poppies for my kids so that they can wear them to school and so that they also understand what it is all about and show their support.
posted on 9/11/11
Blackrose
The most moving part of the whole day was listening to the last post being played at the Menin Gate, a ceremony that has been held every night since the end of WW1 apart from the 4 years the town was occupied by the Germans during WW2.
I have over 400 pictures of our day, and i still well up every time i look at them
posted on 9/11/11
Bluezulu. Reading they play the last post every night bought me out in goosebumps just thinking about it.
FIFA is made up from representatives from around the world and most of the countries they represent most probably fought on the side of of the allies apart from Blatter of course.
I have seen pictures of past England shirts with the poppy proudly worn right in the middle, across the heart.
What is the difference today?
posted on 9/11/11
RBC
There isnt any difference today.
The Last post ceremony is carried out by the Belgians themselves, in gratitude for our help and to honour our fallen.
LEST WE FORGET
posted on 9/11/11
Well, well. FIFA have backtracked a little and have agreed we can wear a poppy on armbands against Spain.
Common sense (almost) prevails.
posted on 9/11/11
As someone with German family connections I find it repulsive in the extreme that Blatter would use a possible game with Germany as an excuse for his actions. All Germans that I know are well aware what the poppy signifies and would respect and support it being worn in Remembrance Week.