FIFA should be ashamed

Apparently FIFA's explanation is that they can't wear poppies just incase one day England play Germany on a Remembrance Sunday.

Still a stupid decision

as someone pointed out though, you are allowed to wear remembrance armbands.... so just issue the players with armbands with a poppy on. problem solved.

I'm going risk being slated here but I sort of agree with FIFA here.

Don't get me wrong, the vast majority of like minded people would agree that these men should be honoured and I feel it should be down to the individual football associations to decide what they can or can't wear but I can understand where FIFA are coming from.

Although unlikely, what would happen if someone like Iran or Syria wanted to wear an armband or symbol for the people who commited 9/11 or if Germany suddenly wanted to remember all the soldiers who were involved in WW2, some of which committed awful crimes or if the Afgan team wanted to commerate people from the Taliben. Would you still feel they had the right to? How could FIFA justify saying yes to one country and then no to another?

Agree or disgree, I don't think politics should have any place in sport

were playing in England, not Iran.

We SHOULD wear them, end of.

were playing in England, not Iran.

We SHOULD wear them, end of.
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why?

seriously, just playing devils advocate as it were, why should we wear a poppy for international games? it only means anything in this country. even some in this country feel it glorifies war and refuse to wear them, or wear a white one for peace.

I really don't think it's a big deal in the slightest, and it can be gotten around anyway with armbands, so i don't really know why the media are making such a big deal about it.

Am sure Per Mertesacker and Robert Huth didn't mind too much in pulling on a shirt with a poppy on the front over the weekend...

this is how WE remember the dead, not much to ask is it.

I agree with ZZ, FIFA cannot go picking and choosing which forms of remberance are acceptable or not...

Where does everyone personally draw the line.. 9/11 hijackers ? 7/7 bom.bers ? I.RA fighters ?

Or do we just allow them all... but you know the media would end up in a frenzy about someone else's rememberance...

Saying all that I don't think the Germans would have a problem with it, but you don't go setting legislation and breaking it because it makes sense sometimes... It could turn round and bite you in the a.ss later on...

Agree with Wild Rover. But another reason is that under the Laws of the Game you cannot wear anything potentially hazardous, above and beyond basic kit and equipment required for protective reasons. This outlaws all forms of jewellery (taping up is not allowed), hard casts, metal braces... even shinpads must be FULLY concealed under socks lest they poke out and pose a hazard. So I assume poppies are much the same - they have plastic parts and will require a pin to secure to a football jersey (that's a no no).

A fabric poppy sewn into the shirts would be acceptable for safety reasons, but may fall foul of laws regarding slogans/political causes etc. Not to mention the number of German and other foreign players who may not wish this to happen.

We used to have shirts with a poppy printed on for Remembrance Day and they were auctioned off afterwards with the money going to Charity, as I recall. It was a nice touch and showed respect.