Just shy of a year ago, FIFA levied heavy fines against the Football Associations of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for defying protocol and wearing Remembrance poppies during their November internationals.
England and Scotland were punished for attempting to circumvent (unsuccessfully) the law by wearing the poppy on a black armband, while Wales were stung for allowing some of their fans to wear the poppy inside the stadium. Perish the thought!
Teams are currently prohibited from adorning their shirts with any ‘political symbol’ and, being as the poppy is used by the British Legion as a means to support all UK troops in both past and active conflicts, it is thus unavoidably imbued with political significance.
However, with the exact same batch of fixtures on the horizon, it would appear that football’s governing body are preparing to lift their blanket ban by rewording their regulations, meaning that the poppy could be worn if both the opposing team and the official match/competition organisers (i.e. FIFA/UEFA, etc) are okay with it.
Yes, it’s very much that time of year again.
Anyway, FIFA have reportedly sent revised drafts of their kit protocol to all their member nations with a new law expected to be passed in time for the upcoming ‘Armistice’ international break that falls between 6th and 14th of November (during which England are due to play Germany in a friendly at Wembley).
According to BBC Sport, due to FIFA’s change of heart, it is likely that the aforementioned fines against the aforementioned FAs will now not have to be paid either.
Tiring, isn’t it? All this interminable incompetence and flimsy rhetoric.
It’s started earlier than usual, but happy Poppy Insanity Month to one and all!