FIFA have finally come to their senses over the farcical annual controversy over England’s football team having a poppy on their kit to commemorate the war dead.
The build up to and often Remembrance Day itself regularly clashes with an international week in the football calendar. So almost every year, there has been a stand-off with FIFA, who did not differentiate between a political symbol or a wholly charitable emblem like the poppy.
But now FIFA in a major breakthrough are proposing an amendment to their rulebook which will make that crucial separation allowing England to have a poppy on their shirts or armbands when Germany play England at Wembley on November 10 – provided the opposition and the match organisers agree.
FIFA will allow England to have a poppy on their shirts or armbands against Germany
FIFA have sent a circular to all their member countries outlining the change of wording that will effectively allow poppies to be worn. It has to be ratified by the law-governing IFAB at their next meeting, but it can come into effect for the November internationals.
The circular reads: ‘When commemorating a significant national or international event, the sensibilities of the opposing team (including the supporters) and the general public should be carefully considered.
‘Competition rules may contain further restrictions/limitations particularly in relation to the size, number and position of permitted slogans, statements and images.
‘It is recommended that disputes relating to slogans, statements or images are resolved prior to a match/competition taking place.’
The FIFA u-turn follows the FA appealing over their ridiculous £35,000 fine for wearing the poppy on the armband for last year’s Armistice Day World Cup qualifier against Scotland.
And there was the firm intention at Wembley of taking the matter to the Council of Arbitration for Sport if Zurich did not back down.
Scotland, whose team also had poppies on their armbands were also fined as were Wales and Northern Ireland for their poppy-related activity.
It’s understood FIFA President Gianni Infantino was sympathetic to the FA cause and wanted to bring an end to the annual poppy circus. The FA’s referees chief David Elleray, an IFAB member, has also been involved in the proposed changes to the rule book.
It is understood Gianni Infantino was sympathetic to the FA cause over the poppy controversy
The FA have spoken to the Germans who are totally relaxed about the poppies being on the England shirts.
It’s also assumed that FIFA’s change of mind will resolve the England appeal without a fine to be paid.
Sportsmail were responsible for the start of the poppy saga following our successful campaign in 2009 for all Premier League clubs to have the British Legion emblem on their shirts, which is now commonplace.
Then in 2011 it became an international furore when FIFA prevented England wearing poppies on their shirts for a game against Spain despite intervention from PM David Cameron and FA president Prince William.
A compromise was reached with poppies on the armbands, which was the case for the 2016 Scotland game – but it still occurred those FIFA fines.
The FA are making no comment until the decision is formally ratified by FIFA.