By Andrew Warshaw
November 24 – Just how petty can you get? In what must surely rank as one of its most nonsensical decisions, verging on the autocratic, FIFA have opened disciplinary proceedings against Wales and Northern Ireland after fans were spotted wearing poppy symbols in the recent World Cup qualifying campaign.
In contrast to England and Scotland who defied FIFA’s request not to display poppies and for fear of incurring sanctions, both the Welsh and Northern Irish federations decided against their players wearing poppies to honour the war dead of World War 1 and all conflicts since, instead opting for plain black armbands.
FIFA regulations state that that players’ equipment should not carry any “political, religious or commercial” slogans while ground safety regulations say “the promotion or announcement of political or religious messages” in stadiums is “strictly prohibited”.
Justifiably or not, England and Scotland were charged with breaching Law 4 of FIFA’s Laws of the Game. But even though they adhered to the rules, the Welsh and Northern Irish now also face being punished after fans freely exercised their right to wear poppies to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice while members of the armed services appeared on the pitch in a tribute ceremony while holding poppy wreaths.
That, for FIFA, seemingly breached the letter of the law. Talk about showing a total lack of compassion.
“The Disciplinary Committee decided to open proceedings against the Irish Football Association and the Football Association of Wales in relation to several incidents involving the display of poppy symbols reported after the matches Northern Ireland-Azerbaijan and Wales-Serbia respectively,” a FIFA statement said.
Not surprisingly both associations, having deliberately decided not to risk being punished, are staggered by the ruling.
The Welsh said the incidents being investigated included:
– Some supporters in the stands wearing the poppy
– A member of the armed forces holding a bunch of poppies at the exit of the players’ tunnel
– A fans mosaic depicting the poppy being displayed during the anthem of Wales; and
– A banner depicting the poppy displayed by the supporters of Wales before the match started.
The case goes before the FIFA disciplinary committee on December 9 and Welsh FA chief executive Jonathan Ford said his federation was “disappointed and surprised” and will “strongly contest the charges”.
“Our intention was to show respect on Armistice weekend which we feel we did in the right and proper way,” he said. “We also adhered to the rules and regulations of the competition and the communication from FIFA prohibiting the FAW request for the players to wear the poppy symbol on the armbands or the field of play.
“We are particularly disappointed that one of the charges relates to supporters in the stands wearing poppies.”
The Irish FA said it, too, “will robustly defend the disciplinary charges”.
Contact the writer of this story at andrew.warshaw@insideworldfootball,com