By Andrew Warshaw
November 11 – As traditional rivals England and Scotland prepare to defy FIFA when they square off at Wembley for their World Cup qualifier tonight, football’s under-fire world governing body insists it has not banned the display of poppies by players on both sides to mark Armistice Day.
FIFA rules forbid players from wearing anything that can be perceived as a political or religious statement but whether wearing poppies constitutes a breach that could cause offense is at the heart of the dispute.
England and Scotland could be sanctioned if they do not comply but will let their players wear black armbands with embroidered poppy emblems and are willing to accept any punishment for honouring the war dead of all conflicts since World War 1 when the tradition first began.
England’s Under-21 team already wore poppies on black armbands during their fixture over Italy on Thursday night but FIFA says talk of a ban is a “distortion of the facts”.
Quoted by the BBC, FIFA said that when contacted by the four British FAs about wearing poppy symbols, it “reminded them about law four” of the FIFA statutes and “reiterated” that “only the independent disciplinary committee can decide” if the rules have been broken and what sanction should apply.
“The perception that FIFA ‘banned’ anything is a distortion of the facts,” it added.
The laws that are enshrined in world football are established by the International FA Board, comprising Fifa and four British associations. Law four, which has caused so much fuss, now seems almost certain to be placed on the agenda at IFAB’s annual meeting next spring in London in an attempt to give it more clarity.
Meantime, Northern Ireland – who host Azerbaijan in Belfast at the same time England take on Scotland – have decided to dispense with poppies but will wear plain black armbands – and Wales have now decided to follow suit when they play Serbia on Saturday.
The Football Association of Wales said it could not risk a financial penalty or point deduction. Instead, fans at Cardiff City Stadium will form a poppy mosaic before kick-off. “The FAW naturally wishes to respect and honour those who fought and lost their lives fighting for their country,” said chief executive, Jonathan Ford.
“We felt unable to take the risk of a financial penalty or point deduction, however as we have always done at this time of year, we will be paying our respects in other ways.”
As far as England and Scotland are concerned, a points deduction is the most serious sanction available but a fine is more likely to be applied. The two countries could then appeal and ultimately take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport though this is deemed unlikely.
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