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FIFA backtracks on poppy row with England
Source: Agencies |
November 11, 2011, Friday
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FIFA has agreed to let the England team wear embroidered poppies on its black armbands to mark Remembrance Day during tomorrow's friendly against Spain, the English Football Association (FA) said.
"The FA welcomes FIFA's decision and thanks them for agreeing to this," the FA said on Wednesday. "While continuing to adhere to the laws of the game, wearing the poppy on the armband does ensure the poppy will be visible throughout the game."
World soccer's governing body had initially rejected requests from the British government to allow England and Wales to wear poppies, instead permitting them to wear black armbands and observe periods of silence. However, following statements from British Prime Minister David Cameron, who called the ban "outrageous" and "absurd", and FA president Prince William, FIFA changed its stance.
"The Duke's strong view is that the poppy is a universal symbol which has no political, religious or commercial connotations. The Duke has asked FIFA to apply an exception in this special circumstance," said a spokesman for Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge and second-in-line to the English throne.
FIFA's rationale that the poppy could be used as a political symbol was justified on Wednesday when two men claiming to belong to a right-wing nationalist group - the English Defence League - staged a protest on the roof of the body's Swiss headquarters in Zurich.
England takes on world champion Spain at Wembley tomorrow and Wales plays Norway in Cardiff while Scotland is playing a friendly in Cyprus today.
"The FA welcomes FIFA's decision and thanks them for agreeing to this," the FA said on Wednesday. "While continuing to adhere to the laws of the game, wearing the poppy on the armband does ensure the poppy will be visible throughout the game."
World soccer's governing body had initially rejected requests from the British government to allow England and Wales to wear poppies, instead permitting them to wear black armbands and observe periods of silence. However, following statements from British Prime Minister David Cameron, who called the ban "outrageous" and "absurd", and FA president Prince William, FIFA changed its stance.
"The Duke's strong view is that the poppy is a universal symbol which has no political, religious or commercial connotations. The Duke has asked FIFA to apply an exception in this special circumstance," said a spokesman for Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge and second-in-line to the English throne.
FIFA's rationale that the poppy could be used as a political symbol was justified on Wednesday when two men claiming to belong to a right-wing nationalist group - the English Defence League - staged a protest on the roof of the body's Swiss headquarters in Zurich.
England takes on world champion Spain at Wembley tomorrow and Wales plays Norway in Cardiff while Scotland is playing a friendly in Cyprus today.
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