if anyone is offended by a poppy...you know were the airport is
..............

I rest my case!

largehat,

Instead of accepting the decision. Instead of saying, we got a pathetic number of votes (was it 3 including our own?), we showed no good grace and complained about the process and made thinly-veiled accusations of corruption.

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Are you trying to say that you believe the voting system was 100%, totally legit? Even though, certain people have since been found guilty of bungs. The people who voted for Qatar to host the WC werent even aware that the temperature is going to be almost unplayable, let-alone know what facilities they have.






Reebok_Rebel

sorry, but i TOTALY agree with that.

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The fact that those responsible for burning a large poppy on remeberance day received a £50 fine & the 1 guy who burned the Karan received 3 weeks imprisonment, proves everything you need to know.

For gawd's sake. Wear it with pride if you want, let the leagues wear it, have the minutes silence around the grounds, including Sunday morning pub football.
If FIFA say no then abide by it and move on.

Chicken, have you realised I am not talking about Islamic culture now? Did I do the headslap emoticon at your comment about that? No.

You're missing my point once again. I'm not saying that the world cup process was cleaner than a joke on childrens' hour. I am saying that our response was ill considered. Instead of saying, we only for 3 votes, we have got something horribly wrong, instead of accepting the failings of our bid, we bemoaned the process.

And you referring to 2022 going to Qatar is just a case in point. We were never in the running for 2022. Now though, because we didn't get 2018, people are moaning about Qatar getting 2022.

We are perceived around the world, particularly in Europe and the English speaking wider world, as a country which complains when it doesn't get its way. The Aussies call us 'whinging poms' for example. You either accept this perception exists or you don't, I've made my point.

Although the poppy originates & symbolises the killing fields of the Somme in WWII, it has been adopted around the world as a universal symbol of rememberance and could be associated with peace.

I find it's use no more political in it's use in sport than the "kick racism out of football" campaign adopted by FIFA.

Racism generally causes wars, poppies remember the people who have paid with their lives.

The symbol of the poppy is not political at all and it's adoption would not cause offence to other nations unless of course they wanted to use it for political reasons which would make them look stupid.

It could hardly be seen as political as say "support the right for a Pallestinian state".

largehat,

All countries moan about eachother, so i'm not too bothered what the Ozzies call us.

I also dont agree that we should be gracious in defeat, where it was clear that the voting system wasn't fair & square - its not very nice knowing that you have been done over.

I'm sure if the hosts of the WC were deserving winners, then Goldenballs & Co would have put their hands up, shook hands, or whatever. The fact is they, and we, know it wasn't.

I really dont see how us having a poppy on our shirts against Spain is affecting, or has anything to do with, anyone else.

Even the Germans have said they have no problem with it, so why would anyone else?

It's because if we have something added to our shirts then other nations will start asking for things added, regardless of whether or not it's political, religious or not. The players can wear armbands with a poppy on them, just accept FIFA decision and move on.

Even the Germans have said they have no problem with it, so why would anyone else?

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On the other hand I can kind of see FIFAs stance on this. They obviously dont want to get involved with any other FIFA members asking for a symbol on their kit. Sticking to the laws they have set down will avoid all this.

Doesn't really bother me too much, it's a British tradition, and FIFA is a global organisation. All in favour of poppies, but don't see the necessity to have them on England shirts.

You don't see why they should be on shirts?

Do you have no respect?

Corporal,

I agree there's no necessity, i just dont see the big hoo ha.

You don't see why they should be on shirts?

Do you have no respect?

--

I have plenty of respect for our armed forces, two of my family members fought with them.

I gave respect to the soldiers at the weekend when my team wore them on their shirts and had a minutes silence and will do on Sunday.

Is it necessary for us to wear them on Saturday? no not IMO. I can't see why we just don't wear black armbands.

I think since the request was denied, it has got political with the sports minister and now Cameron coming out slamming FIFA, why? because its what the public want.

First this from FIFA. Why next, ban a minutes silence or applause?


All the Premier League clubs displayed poppies ss a mark of respect at the weekend now its the national teams turn.

http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/NewsAndFeatures/2011/Remembrance-Day-2011

Heres a list of what we are doing ....

I still want my national team to wear a poppy on match shirts and not be told by a football association what we can and cannot do.

You don't see why they should be on shirts?

Do you have no respect?
------------------------------
I do, but It feels to me that people love an excuse to feel outraged about something. 'It's political correctness gone mad!'

Why not simply wear a black armband with a poppy on it? That way we still show the oppy and our respect for the armed forces without breaking FIFA rules as it isn't on the SHIRT itself.

I agree that FIFA could be a little more understanding on this issue but I also see their point because in some countries we might have wound up with pics of the president or the current dictator on there.

I'm not saying FIFA are right in this case but they are a GLOBAL governing body and as such have to look at a much wider picture and longer term/

poppy not oppy sorry

i genuinely hate FIFA i think it is insanely corrupt and Ran with corporate incentives, and not charitable i.e make as much money as possible.

However on this occasion they are spot on. I support the poppy appeal, all my family are ex or current military, my dad has served on the frontline in iraq and Bosnia. However, if Fifa allow the poppies, which im sure 99.9% of Fifa delagates agree with the sentiment that the poppy stands for, this will open the door for example, Afganhistan to wear... or forced to wear bin laden supporting material.

Football should be neutral and neither seen to be supporting or disrespecting any views. This is why it doesnt ban North Korea from world cups based on its human rights records etc.

I entirely agree with Fifas decision...... i dont think i have ever typed these words in my life!!!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/8878003/England-v-Spain-lets-play-by-Sepp-Blatters-rules-but-still-turn-Wembley-into-a-field-of-poppies.html

One other thing i have thought about is..... surely a player could wear a poppy? if not, wouldnt that be infringing on his human rights?? Or at best punishable by way of a booking, in the same vain as taking your shirt off??

I was wondering that too, have we ever worn a poppy on the international kit before?
Personally I don't wear a poppy, as I think it's relevance and meaning are slowly being turned from the original purpose into something else. I do give to the British Legion on a regular basis mind you. My reasons for doing this are political in that I'm a pacifist and while I want to support those injured or affected by war, I'm not keen on war itself. "Lest we forget" meant just that, "Remember how bad all this war stuff is and don't do it again!"
I've seen a lot of stuff recently though around the poppy that worries me and it smacks of nationalism. "Don't like my poppy? F$@k off back to your own country!" was one particularly charming posting on the British Legion's facebook page the other day.
I can see why FIFA might see it as a political gesture to wear a poppy if they ever saw something like that.

The telegraph article from Golden Gambler is spot on!

Hatecamel - think you are spot on with your thoughts apart from... as in most cases, its the minority of idiots who post that kind of thing, most intelligent people understand what the poppy really stands for, but your point about... lest we forget... yet we do our best to "remember" on remembrance sunday is interesting and we are still at war.. Ive never really thunk of it like that??