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FIFA says no to wearing poppies

Comment: 0 November 9th, 2011 by: admin

IT may be a go to the Football Association but the FIFA have the final say.

The world’s governing body in football said no on Tuesday to England’s request of wearing an embroidered red poppy on their football t-shirts when they play Spain in a friendly  on Saturday.

Despite a heartfelt, last-ditch plea by the British government, FIFA dashed the Three Lions’ hopes of donning the poppy in their bid to honour the country’s war dead.

The FA had sent the FIFA a special request to relax their stand to prevent England from celebrating Remembrance Day – when members of the armed forces who have perished on duty since World War I are given tribute by Commonwealth countries – by wearing the poppies during the fixture at Wembley Stadium.

Being the first plant to grow from the battlefields after the first World War, the poppy became the official symbol of remembrance in numerous countries.

FIFA said they rejected the appeals to reiterate their policy of banning political, religious or commercial messages on official uniforms and equipment.

Instead, the FIFA urged the FA to turn to other options like observing a period of silence to honour the dead before the match.

Britain’s Sports Minister Hugh Robertson had earlier sent FIFA a letter to stress how strongly the British public feel about the issue.

But in a statement released to the FA, the FIFA 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. Therefore, we confirm herewith that the suggested embroidery on the match shirt cannot be authorised.’’

The English though got a backing from FIFA vice president Jim Boyce who told the FIFA bosses to use “common sense’’ by allowing the players to wear poppies on their jerseys.

Still, the FIFA won’t budge. They reiterated the observance of a moment of silence as an option that can be implemented.

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