The latest positive trend in football and other walks of life is to show solidarity with the Poppy Day Appeal to mark the anniversary of Armistice Day 1918 by displaying poppies on team strips etc eg as sported by Newcastle and Arsenal, inter alia, on their shirts today. Unbelievably this has been undermined by a crass edict from FIFA banning the England team from sporting the poppy on their national shirts in their match next week. Instead England will only be allowed to wear the poppy on their training kit. There will however be a minute's silence before the game.
FIFA does not allow the display of religious, political or commercial symbols/emblems on national kits. A spokesman said that this rule is observed across its 208 member nations. One could comment on the rampant commercialism of FIFA and its 'partners' and the playing of national anthems at matches ...
At a time when FIFA has just faced 'the worst 100 days in its 100 year history' according to its President, Sepp Blatter, and is beset with corruption allegations, some proved, maybe a little flexibility would have helped its tainted image. After all, an appeal aimed at easing the suffering of those maimed in war is hardly controversial.
The FA are being urged by some to ignore the ban and effectively make FIFA dare to punish them. The FA wont. FIFA would not have.
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