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FIFA blinks, allows poppies on armbands

Comment: 0 November 10th, 2011 by: admin

IN an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation with the Football Association and England national team regarding the wearing of poppies, the FIFA blinked first.

The world governing body in football, who first said ‘no’ to the request, relented on Wednesday and agreed to let the Three Lions wear embroidered poppies on their black armbands to honour war dead on Remembrance Day when they face Spain in a highly-anticipated friendly on Saturday at Wembley Stadium.

In a statement, the FA said they welcomed the FIFA decision and thanked the latter for agreeing on the use of the flower symbolising national pride.

The FA added that wearing the poppy on the armband ensures it will be visible throughout the game.

On Tuesday, FIFA rejected requests from the British government to allow England and Wales to wear poppies, and gave them options like observing periods of silence or wearing black armbands.

But the FIFA made a turnaround when British Prime Minister David Cameron called the ban ‘outrageous’ and ‘absurd’, and FA president Prince William backed Cameron.

A spokesman of Prince William said the Duke of Cambridge strongly views that the poppy is a universal symbol which has no political, religious or commercial connotations, and has asked the football body to apply an exception for the special circumstance.

Wales will tackle Norway in Cardiff, also on Saturday. Wales and Scotland, who will visit Cyprus on Friday, said they will also sport poppies on their armbands.

Cameron was irked by FIFA’s earlier decision, saying ‘this seems outrageous. The idea that wearing a poppy to remember those who have given their lives for our freedom is apolitical act is absurd.’

He stressed that wearing a poppy is an act of huge respect and national pride.

Remembrance Day will be observed on Nov. 11, the day the Armistice was signed that paved the way for the end of World War I in 1918.

The FIFA also allowed the teams to observe a minute’s silence before the games and for teams to wear poppies on their training kits.

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