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The poppy controversy rumbles on. PA Wire/PA Images
Controversy

England plan to wear poppies for Scotland clash despite Fifa ban

FA chairman Greg Clarke insists the players will be marking Remembrance Day but world football’s governing body is standing firm.

ENGLAND’S FOOTBALLERS INTEND to wear poppies for their World Cup qualifier against Scotland on Remembrance Day, insists the FA chairman.

Greg Clarke says there are plans in place for the players to mark 11 November despite a Fifa ruling that prohibits the display of symbols on international jerseys which could be interpreted as a political, religious or commercial statement.

“We’ll be wearing poppies at Wembley” Clarke told ITV News. ”I mean, we’d rather come to an agreement with Fifa, so that they’re happy with that, but you know, it’s inconceivable that the FA won’t be sanctioning the wearing of poppies at Wembley.

My personal opinion, and actually the same opinion I hold as the chair of the FA, is that of course we should wear poppies. We’re commemorating millions of people who gave their lives in wars over the last 100 years and they deserve that, and the people who lost relatives deserve that, and that’s our plan.

“We’re balancing respect for the fallen and their families. We’re negotiating in good faith with Fifa to try and find a solution.”

Talks to resolve the matter have yet to produce a compromise and Fifa Secretary General Fatma Samoura said this evening that “the rules will not be changed” after holding discussions with Clarke in London.

The English and Scottish Football Associations had previously applied for a rule exemption for their encounter in Wembley Stadium next Friday. But the Scottish FA chief executive Stewart Regan said yesterday that Fifa are ‘sticking to the letter of the law.’

Failure to comply with the ruling could result in a reduction of points.

The refusal to allow players wear the poppies has provoked outrage among those who support the cause in memory of the war dead, and speaking earlier today, Prime Minister Theresa May said:

“I think the stance that has been taken by Fifa is utterly outrageous. Our football players want to recognise and respect those who have given their lives for our safety and security. I think it is absolutely right that they should be able to do so.”

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