September 21 – Not before time, FIFA is set to back down and lift its ban on British national teams displaying the poppy symbols on shirts and armbands to honour the war dead of World War 1 and all conflicts since.
In what must surely rank as one of its most nonsensical decisions, FIFA imposed fines on the four British associations last year saying the wearing of poppies contravened regulations that that players’ equipment should not carry any “political, religious or commercial” slogans.
Fatma Samoura, FIFA’s new secretary general, said at the time: “Britain is not the only country that has been suffering from the result of war.” British prime minister Theresa May responded by calling the ruling “utterly outrageous”.
But the ban is now reportedly to be lifted FIFA in time for England’s friendly with Germany on November 10, the evening before Armistice Day.
There was widespread incredulity when FIFA fined England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for their use of the poppy symbol 10 months ago. England and Scotland wore the emblem on black armbands during a World Cup qualifier at Wembley whilst Wales and Northern Ireland were fined for fans displaying it in their stadiums.
FIFA’s relaxation of the rules reportedly states in new guidelines that “Whilst ‘religious’ and ‘personal’ are relatively easily defined, ‘political’ is less clear”.
The new wording of FIFA’s law tightens the definition of what is deemed a ‘political’ symbol as follows:
- the commemoration of any living or dead person
- political parties or groups
- any local or national government
- discriminatory organisations
- any group whose aims / actions would offend a notable number of people
- any specific political act / event
The International Football Association Board (IFAB), the game’s lawmakers, is expected to approve the amendment in early October.
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